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RELIGIOUS  ALLEGORIES 


BEING    A    SERIE3    OP 


EMBLEMATIC  ENGRAVINGS, 

WITH    WRITTEN  EXPLANATIONS,    mSCELLANE0U3  OBSER- 
VATIONS, AND  BELIGIOUS  REFLECTIONS, 


DESIGNED   TO    ILLUSTRATE 

DIVI.-NE    TRUTH, 

ni  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  CARDINAL  PRINCIFUM  09 

CHRISTIANITY. 

/  kamt  used  similitudes.    Hosea,  12  chap.  10  ▼. 


BY  REV.   WILLIAM   HOLMES, 

MINISTEB    or   THE   GOSPEL;    AND 

JOHN     W .     BARBER, 

AUTROB  OF  "THE  ELEMENTS  OF  GENERAL  HISTOEr,*' 


HEJ^RY    HOWE,    PUBLISHER, 

111  MAIX-STREET, 

CINCINNATI,      OHIO. 


ENTERED 
ACCORDI!ra   TO   THE   ACT   OF    CONGRESS,   rx    THE    VK.\K     !^■iK 

BY    JOHN    W.    BARBER, 

m  THE  OFFICE  OF   THE   CLERK    OF    THE    DISTRICT    vui  KT    rF 

CONNECTICUT. 


V 


TO  THE  READER. 


It  is  now  about  two  years  since  the  Religious  Emblems,  a 
work  by  the  Authors  of  the  present  publication,  was  first  is.sued. 
The  manner  in  which  that  work  was  received  by  the  Christian 
public,  has  encouraged  another  effort  of  the  same  kind,  which, 
it  is  believed,  will  be  found  equally  worthy  of  attentioo. 


70200 


166 


RBLIGIOUS    ALLEOOHISS. 


:^ 


Looking  unto  Jesu*.    fleb.  ziL  2. 

LOOKING  UNTO  JESUS. 

Amtd  the  world's  vain  pleasures,  din  and  strife. 
The  Christian  treads  the  upward  path  of  life  ; 
Though  sorely  tempted  to  forsake  the  way, 
He  presses  onward  still  from  day  to  day  ; 
On  worldly  honors  he  with  scorn  looks  down. 
Content  if  he  at  last  shall  wear  a  crown  ; 


EELIGIOTS    ALLEGOHIES.  1  ^57 

And  worldly  tsealth  vrithout  regret  he  leaves. 
He  treasure  has  beyond  the  reach  of  thieves. 
The  Syren  Pleasure  with  voluptuous  strain, 
Strives  to  ensnare  hiin,  but  she  strives  in  vain; 
His  ear  lie  closes  to  their  idle  noise, 
And  hastevis  upward  to  ceiestia!  joy?  : 
At  God's  right  hand  he  own.?  an  ample  store, 
Of  joys  substantial,  lasting  evermore  ; 
He  looks  to  Jesus,  his  Almighty  Friend, 
Nor  fails  at  last  to  reach  his  journey's  end. 

The  Christian  is  here  depicted  making  his  way 
up  the  path  of  life.  The  -wealth  of  this  world  is 
offered  to  him  on  condition  that  he  will  turn  aside. 
He  rejects  the  offer  with  disdain  :  he  points  upward, 
intimating  that  his  treasure  is  in  heaven.  Honors 
are  presented  ;  these  he  despises  also,  content  with 
the  honor  that  comes  from  God.  The  votaries  of 
sinful  pleasures  next  address  him  ;  they  promise  all 
sorts  of  delights  if  he  would  stay  and  dwell  with 
them.  He  closes  his  ear  to  their  deceitful  song : 
he  looks  upward  to  Jesus  his  Lord  and  his  God,  and 
taking  up  the  song  of  an  old  pilgrim,  he  goes  on  his 
way  singing  : — 

"  Thou  wilt  show  to  me  the  path  of  life, 

"  In  thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy, 

"  Pleasures  at  thy  right  hand  for-evermore. 

But  what  will  not  men  in  general  do  in  order  to 
obtain  those  very  things  which  the  Christian  rejects 
with  so  much  disdain  ?  What  have  they  not  done  1 
Answer,  ye  battle  fields  that  have  heard  the  dying 
groans  of  so  many  myriads !  xVnswer,  ye  death 
beds  that  have  listened  to  the  lamentations  of  the 
votaries  of  pleasure  !  Answer,  ye  habitations  of 
cruelty,  where  the  life's  blood  of  the  victims  of  ava. 
rice  oozes  away  from  day  to  day,  under  the  rod  of 
the  oppressor  !     And  who  or  what  is  the  Chrif>tian 


i^S  BXL10I0U»    ALLKOUKIEB. 

that  these  things  have  no  influrnce  over  him  ?  Is 
he  not  a  man  ?  Yes  ;  an  altered  man  from  what 
he  was  once  ;  a  new  man.  Old  things  have  passed 
away.  All  things  have  become  new.  He  looks  to 
Jesus.  Here  is  where  his  great  strength  lies.  Here 
is  the  power  by  which  he  overcometh  the  world, 
even  by  looking  to  Jesus.  Do  you  ask  what  is  this 
looking  to  Jesus  ?  What  magic  is  there  in  this  so 
powerful  ?  Listen  !  Our  sins  have  separated  us  from 
God,  for  "  all  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God."  Death  temporal  has  passed  upon  all  men, 
as  the  forerunner  of  eternal  death,  except  we  repent 
and  be  converted.  But  hjow  shall  we  repent  and  be 
converted  ?  How  shall  we  guilty  ones  dare  to  ap- 
proach the  Holy  God  ?  He  is  of  purer  eyes  than  to 
behold  iniquity.  What  shall  Ave  bring  to  gain  his 
favor  ?  Alas  for  our  poverty  if  it  were  to  be  bought 
with  money!  Alas  for  our  sinfulness  if  our  own 
righteousness  could  have  sufficed  to  recommend  us 
to  God  !  Alas  for  our  impotence  if  we  ha<l  been 
left  unaided  to  descend  Bethesda's  Pool !  Alas  for 
our  blindness  if  we  had  been  left  to  ourselves  to 
discover  a  door  of  Hope. 

While  in  this  plight  Jesus  comes  to  our  reliefl 
He  brings  a  price — a  righteousness — a  strength — a 
light.  He  is  the  light  of  the  world — the  Sun  of 
righteousness.  He  shines  and  dispels  the  gloom. 
O  how  cheering  are  His  rays !  As  the  beams  of 
the  morning  give  hope  and  consolation  to  the  be- 
nighted traveler  in  some  dreary  wilderness,  so  does 
Jesus,  the  "  day  spring  from  on  high,"  give  light  and 
hope  to  those  who  sit  in  "darkness,  and  in  the  shadow 
of  death."  The  light  of  love  and  the  hope  of  hea- 
ven. The  path  of  duty  is  revealed,  the  promise  of 
inmiortality  is  given.  Do  you  ask  yet  again,  what 
is  meant  by  looking  to  Jesus  ?     Again  listen.     The 


BELIGIOU8    ALLEGORIES.  1^9 

exercise  of  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This  is 
what  is  meant.  Man  is  made  capable  of  confidence, 
of  confidence  in  man.  In  this  consists  the  charms 
of  domestic  felicity.  A  man  without  confidence  in 
his  race  is  an  isolated  being  ;  he  is  cut  off  from  all 
the  sympathies  of  his  kind.  Just  so,  man  without 
confidence  in  God,  is  separated  from  him.  He  is  in 
the  world  without  God,  and  without  Hope.  Faith 
unites  man  to  God.  The  Christian  is  a  man  of  faith. 
He  is  united  to  God  ;  he  walks  by  faith,  he  lives 
by  faith.  The  life  which  he  lives  is  a  life  of  faith 
in  the  Son  of  God  who  loved  him,  and  gave  himself 
— O  wondrous  gift — for  him. 

He  looks  to  Jesus,  as  unto  an  "  offering  for  sin." 
He  receives  it  as  a  faithful  saying,  worthy  of  all  ac- 
ceptation, that  "  He  hath  made  Him  who  knew  no 
sin,  to  be  a  sin-offering  for  us,  that  we  might  be  made 
the  righteousness  of  God  in  Him."  That  is,  that 
we  might  be  completely  saved  by  Him.  This  is 
the  ground  of  his  rejoicing,  that  Jesus  hath  made 
"  a  full,  perfect,  and  sufficient  sacrifice,  oblation,  and 
satisfaction  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,"  since 
"  he  by  the  grace  of  God  tasted  death  for  every  man." 
He  regards  his  sins  as  being  of  such  a  nature  that 
nothing  but  the  "  precious  blood  of  Christ"  could 
avail  to  purge  them  away.  Thus  the  man  of  God 
considers  Jesus.  He  goes  from  strength  to  strength, 
making  mention  of  his  righteousness,  who  died  for 
his  sins,  and  rose  again  for  his  justification. 

Sach,  however,  is  man's  nature,  such  are  his 
wants,  trials,  and  destiny,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
has  for  his  sake  assumed  various  offices  and  titles. 
Does  man  feel  his  helplessness,  that  he  cannot  of 
himself  do  an}1^hing  that  is  good,  he  is  invited  to 
look  fi"om  self  to  Jesus  as  the  "  Mighty  God."  Look 
unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved  all  ye  ends  of  the  earth, 


170  KPLIGIOUf    ALLEOORISS. 

for  bpside  me  there  is  no  God.  While  others  look 
at  their  own  weakness,  at  the  difficulties  of  the  way, 
at  the  strength  and  number  of  their  foes,  the  man  of 
faith  looks  from  these  to  Jesus.  Is  he  tempted  to 
think  that  after  all  he  shall  never  see  the  King  in  his 
beauty  ?  He  may  look  to  Jesus  as  his  "  Advocate" 
with  the  Father,  who  takes  care  of  his  interest  in 
the  court  of  heaven,  and  who  is  no  less  watchful 
over  his  affairs  below.  Does  he  need  a  subject 
calculated  to  fill  his  mind  with  mean  ide^s  of  self? 
he  looks  to  Jesus  as  '*  the  wonderful,^^  wonderful 
indeed.  God  made  man  for  man  to  die.  In  hig 
birth,  in  his  life,  in  his  death,  in  his  resurrection,  and 
ascension,  He  is  wonderful.  In  his  character,  in 
his  operations,  both  of  nature  and  of  grace,  in  draw- 
ing, softening,  sanctifying,  and  glorifying  the  believer, 
He  is  wondertul  !  O  the  depth  both  of  the  wisdom 
and  the  goodness  of  God  ! 

Does  he  find  the  affairs  of  earth  too  intricate  for 
him,  and  that  the  children  of  this  world  are  wiser  in 
their  generation  than  the  children  of  light?  He 
looks  to  Jesus  as  "  the  Counsellor"  who  is  able  to 
guide  the  feet  of  his  saints. 

In  the  time  of  trouble  the  Christian  looks  to  his 
counsellor  and  finds  him  a  "  very  present  help,"  and 
no  expensive  charges,  or  ruinous  issues  follow.  He 
looks  to  Jesus  as  the  Author  or  Beginner:  of  Faith, 
who  has  called  him  to  be  a  Christian,  who  has  pointed 
out  to  him  the  oror.er  path  of  duty,  and  who  will  at 
last  award  to  him  a  crown  of  righteousness. 

Painters,  sculptors,  and  others  have,  in  order  to  be 
perfect  in  their  ail,  studied  models  of  excellence. 
The  Christian  studies  Jesus;  he  is  his  "model"  or 
"  example."  Are  his  trials  many  ?  is  his  cross 
hearvy  ?  He  considers  Jesus  who  "  endured  the  cross 
and  despised  the  shame."     Is  he  poor?     "The  Son 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOBIES.  171 

of  man  had  no-where  to  lay  his  head."  Is  he  nch? 
for  the  rich  are  also  called  ;  he  considers  him  "who 
was  rich,  and  for  our  sakes  become  poor."  Is  he 
tempted  with  the  glories  of  the  present  world  ?  To 
the  Savior  "  all  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  and  the 
glory  of  ihem"  were  offered.  Is  he  persecuted  ?  He 
looks  to  Jesus  on  the  cross  und  prays  "  Father  forgive 
them."  Thus  he  looks  from  earthly  glory  to  that  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.  From 
earthly  possessions  to  that  "  inheritance  that  fadeth 
not  away,  and  from  earthly  pleasures  to  those  that 
are  spiritual  and  eternal.  Adopting  the  language  of 
the  poet,  he  looks  unto  Jesus  as 

"His  all! 
His  theme,  his  inspiration,  and  his  crown  ; 
His  strength  in  age,  his  rise  in  low  estate. 
His  soul's  ambition,  pleasure,  wealth,  hia  world, 
His  light  in  darkness,  and  his  life  in  death, 
His  boast  through  lime,  bliss  through  etemitj, 
Eternity  too  short  to  sing  his  praise." 


**  I  send  the  J073  of  earth  away  ; 

Away,  ye  tempters  of  the  mind, 
False  as  the  smooth,  deceitful  sea. 

And  empty  as  the  whistling  wind. 

Now  to  the  shining  realms  above, 

I  stretch  my  hand    and  glance  mine  eyef ; 

0  for  the  pinions  of  a  dove. 

To  bear  me  to  the  upper  skies! 

In  vain  the  world  accosts  my  ear. 
And  tempts  my  heart  anew ; 

1  cannot  buy  your  bliss  so  dear. 

Nor  part  with  heaven  for  you." 

Dr.  WattA 


22 


172 


RKLIGIOUR    ALLS00iirBt8» 


For  tee  tealk  by  faith,  not  by  sight.    2  Cor.  T.  7. 

WALKING  BY  FAITH. 

Tht  convert  here  tarns  on  the  world  his  back. 

And  walks  by  faith  along  the  narrow  track  ; 

Before  him  mists  arise,  and  o'er  his  head 

Thick  clouds  of  darkness  roll,  and  round  him  q;)reid> 

A  bottomless  abyss  beneath  extends, 

And  ftiil  new  danger  to  his  pathway  lends. 


RELietOUS   ALLEOORIBS.  173 

While  ever  and  anon  a  lurid  wreath 

Comes  rising  upward  from  the  pit  of  death. 

Though  all  around  him  spreads  ihe  gloom  of  night, 

His  footsteps  sparkle  with  a  brilliant  light ; 

His  Lamp— the  Boo'i  of  God— doth  brightly  shine. 

And  pours  upon  his  path  a  light  divine. 

Between  the  murky  columns  as  they  rise, 

Sometimes  he  sees  a  palace  in  the  skies  ; 

His  heart  is  cheered,  nor  death  nor  danger  dreads. 

While  circumspectly  on  his  way  he  treads. 

Thus  step  by  step,  he  walks  the  narrow  road. 

Till  at  the  end  he  finds  himself  with  God. 

Here  is  depicted  a  man  just  starting  from,  what 
appears  to  be  solid  ground,  to  walk  upon  a  nan'ow 
plank,  stretched  across  a  deep  gulph,  and  which  ends 
nobody  knows  whither.  Before  him  thick  clouds  of 
mist  and  vapor  slowly  but  continually  ascend  from 
the  gulph  or  pit,  rolling  clouds  of  pitchy  blaci<ness 
also  ascend.  They  spread  themselves  around  him  ; 
in  wreathy  columns  they  stand  before,  and  hide  the 
future  from  his  vision.  Still  he  proceeds  ;  he  is  a 
wonder  to  many,  who  cannot  tell  what  to  make  of  it. 
The  man  himself,  however,  appears  to  know  very 
well  what  he  is  doing.  He  holds  in  his  hand  a  book 
which  he  reads  as  he  goes  along ;  though  it  may 
seem  to  some  unsafe,  yet  he  finds  it  advantageous 
rather  than  otherwise.  The  book,  he  thinks,  throws 
light  upon  his  path  ;  now  and  then  the  wind  blows 
the  clouds  of  smoke  a  little  on  one  side,  and  he  be- 
holds, apparently  far  off  in  the  distance,  a  splendid 
mansion — this  is  the  palace  he  has  heard  of;  it  is 
thither  the  way  leads,  thither  he  would  go. 

The  sight  of  the  mansion  above,  whenever  he  is 
so  fortunate  as  to  behold  it,  inspires  him  with  cour- 
age and  fortitude  ;  he  bears  cheerfully  his  present  la- 
bors and  sufTeriugs,  and  meets  without  fear  any  new 
foe.     He  walks  onward  step  by  step,  looking  well  at 


17  i  RELIGIOUS    ALLEUOBIES. 

his  footsteps  ;  at  last  he  arrives  at  the  end  of  his 
journey — this  opens  upon  him  quite  abruptly.  Sud- 
denly  he  beholds  right  before  him  the  mansion  shin- 
ing  gloriously.  He  enters — he  is  made  heartily  wel- 
conie — he  is  amply  repaid  for  all  his  labors  and  suf- 
ferings. 

This  may  be  considered  as  an  allegorical  repre- 
sentation of  the  Christian  walking  by  faith  through 
this  world  to  the  next ;  the  young  Christian,  when 
he  embraces  Christ,  turns  his  back  upon  the  world, 
its  vanities,  and  sinful  pleasures.  He  renounces  it 
as  an  object  of  trust  and  hope  ;  he  leads  a  new  life  ; 
he  walks  a  new  path.  It  is  the  path  of  Faith.  He 
knows  not  what  is  before  him  in  the  present  life, 
whether  sickness  or  health,  prosperity  or  adversity  ; 
clouds  of  darkness,  of  temptation,  and  trouble,  are 
sometimes  made  to  arise  in  his  path,  by  the  enemy 
of  his  soul,  to  discourage  him  in  the  way  he  has  cho- 
sen. Yet  he  pursues.  The  word  of  God  is  his  con- 
stant, best  companion — it  is  a  light  unto  all  his  go- 
ings ;  by  it  he  cleanses  his  way  ;  though  it  occupies 
much  of  his  time,  so  that  many  think  it  will  prove 
his  ruin,  yet  he  finds  it  exceedingly  helpful,  nay  he 
would  not  be  without  it  for  all  the  world. 

In  the  midst  of  his  labors  and  sufferings,  he  fre- 
quently enjoys  rich  foretastes  of  the  happiness  of 
heaven  ;  these  are  refreshing  to  his  soul,  strengthen- 
ing and  inspiring  him  with  zeal  for  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
His  light  afflictions  he  reckons  are  not  worthy  to  be 
compared  with  the  glory  of  which  he  has  had  an 
earnest.  Not  knowing  what  shall  befall  him  from 
hour  to  hour,  and  from  day  to  day,  he  goes  forward 
tiusting  in  God,  to  whom  he  has  committed  the  keep, 
ing  of  all  his  concerns,  soul  and  body,  for  time  and 
eternity.  By  and  by  he  finishes  his  course  ;  he  has 
kept  the  faith,  and  an  abundant  entrance  is  adminis- 


BELI6I0U8    ALLEGORlEfc  175 

tered  to  him  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  Jesus 
Christ.  The  man  who  walks  by  sight,  looks  only  at 
the  things  which  are  seen,  and  which,  of  course,  are 
temporal.  He  looks  at  and  regards  the  things  of 
earth,  as  worthy  of  his  esteem,  of  his  love,  of  his  la- 
bor,  of  his  sufferings  ;  houses  and  lands,  power  and 
renown,  and  whatsoever  tends  to  supply,  the  lust  of 
the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  lite — 
these  are  the  objects  to  which  he  directs  all  his  pray- 
ers, all  his  purposes,  and  all  his  toils — he  lives  for 
this,  and  if  necessary  he  will  die  for  it. 

He  puts  faith  in  nobody.  He  will  have  bonds  and 
seals  and  witnesses  for  all  and  in  all  his  transactions 
He  will  not  trust  the  Almighty  with  any  of  his  con- 
cerns, but  manages  them  all  himself.  He  asks  no 
favors  at  his  hands  ;  if  indeed  he  does  at  any  time 
put  up  a  petition  to  God,  it  is  that  he  will  ask  nothing 
of  him. 

How  different  with  the  man  of  Faith.  He  sees 
the  things  of  earth  and  knows  their  value.  It  is 
enough  for  him  that  they  are  temporal.  He  values 
them  simply  as  they  bear  upon  Eternity.  He  looks 
at  the  things  that  are  not  seen,  which  are  eternal : 
his  soul — and  whatever  tends  to  inform  and  purify  it 
— his  Sa\'ior,  and  whatever  will  advance  his  cause  on 
the  earth ;  his  God, — and  what  will  glorify  him  : 
Heaven — and  whatever  will  help  him  on  his  way 
thither  :  Hell — and  what  will  enable  him  to  escape 
it.  He  looks  at  man  as  a  fellow  traveler  to  Eternity 
— to  the  Judgment — puts  a  generous  confidence  in  him 
and  labors  to  benefit  him  temporarily  and  spiritually. 
His  thoughts,  his  words,  his  actions,  are  all  regulated 
according  to  his  eternal  interest.  A  man  must  live 
before  he  can  walk.  So  it  is  spiritually.  He  lives 
a  life  of  faith  in  the  Son  of  God.  Hence  it  is  not 
difficult  to  walk  by  faith.     H©  is  but  a  sojourner 


170  REXJOIOUA    A.LLEeORIBR. 

here.     His  citizenship  is  in  heaven.     He  is  a  denU 
zen  of  immortality.     Hence  to  him — 

"  Faith  lends  its  realizing  light, 

"  The  clouds  disperse,  the  shadows  fly, 

"  The  Invisible  appears  in  sight, 

"  And  God  is  seen  by  mortal  eye  ; 

"  The  things  unknown  to  feeble  sense, 

"  Unseen  by  reason's  glimmering  ray, 

"  With  strong  commanding  evidence, 

*'  Their  heavenly  origin  display." 

Faith  is  the  foundation  of  things  hoped  for,  the 
conviction  of  things  not  seen.  Faith  becomes  a 
foundation  on  which  Hope  builds  her  glorious  temple 
of  future  happiness.  The  spies  who  brought  an  evil 
report  of  the  land  of  Promise,  walked  by  sight. 
They  saw  nothing  beside  the  high  walls  ;  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  ;  the  gigantic  Anikim.  Not  so 
Joshua  and  Caleb.  They  saw  only  the  promise,  and 
the  power  of  Jehovah,  which  they  believed  was  suffi- 
cient to  bring  it  to  pass.  While  the  former  perished 
with  those  who  believed  not,  they,  walking  by  Faith, 
entered  the  goodly  land  and  possessed  it  for  an  inher- 
itance forever. 

In  the  days  of  the  Redeemer,  there  were  some 
who  saw  only  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem — the  Car- 
penter's Son — the  Nazarine — the  Man  of  sorrows— 
the  crucified  Malefactor,  and  who  dreamed  of  a  tem- 
poral kingdom.  These  all  walked  by  sight.  Others 
beheld  in  him,  the  mighty  God — the  everlasting  Fa- 
ther— the  Prince  of  Peace — the  Messiah — the  desire 
of  all  nations — the  Lamb  of  God — the  Son  of  God-^ 
The  King  of  Israel — who  looked  for  a  spiritual  king- 
dom that  would  fill  the  whole  earth,  whose  dominion 
should  be  forever  and  ever.  These  all  walked  by 
faith,  and  according  to  their  faith  even  so  was  it  done 
unto  them. 


BELIOIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  177 

By  faith,  the  good  old  Simeon  took  up  the  child 
Jesus  in  his  arms,  and  said,  "Lord,  now  lettest  thou 
thy  sen'ant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation."  By  faith,  the  friends  of  the  man  sick 
of  the  palsy  broke  open  the  roof  of  the  house,  and 
lowered  the  sick  man  down  into  the  midst  where 
Jesus  w^as,  and  experienced  his  salvation.  By  faith, 
Joseph  of  Arimathea,  went  to  Pilate  and  begged  the 
body  of  Jesus,  and  layed  it  in  his  own  sepulchre,  not 
doubting  but  that  it  would  be  raised  again  according 
to  the  scriptures.  By  faith,  Paul,  when  brought 
before  kings  and  princes  of  the  earth,  declared  boldly 
the  gospel  of  Christ  and  his  hope  in  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead.'  By  faith,  the  disciples,  who  were  in 
Jerusalem  when  it  was  encompassed  by  the  Roman 
armies,  left  the  city  and  fled  to  the  mountains,  and 
thus  escaped  punishment  in  the  overthrow  1  hereof. 
By  faith,  Johi.  Huss,  and  Jerome,  of  Prague,  deliv- 
ered their  bodies  to  be  burned,  not  accepting  deliv- 
erance.  By  faith,  Luther  burnt  the  Bull  of  excom- 
munication, and  repaired  to  the  city  of  Worms,  not 
fearing  the  wrath  of  Pope,  Emperor,  or  Devil.  By 
faith,  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  braved  the  fury  of  the  ocean 
and  the  \'iolence  of  the  savage,  and  planted  a  habi- 
tation for  God  in  the  wilderness,  yea,  a  refuge  for 
the  children  of  men. 

The  time  would  fail  to  speak  of  Elliot  and  of 
Brainerd,  of  Martyn  and  of  Carey,  of  Wilson  and  of 
Schwartz,  of  Wesley  and  of  Whitefield,  and  of  oth- 
ers whose  names  are  recorded  in  heaven,  who, 
through  faith,  unlocked  the  fountains  of  truth,  broke 
down  the  barriers  of  opposition,  subdued  nations  to 
faith  of  Christ,  wrought  righteousness,  and  preached 
to  the  poor  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord. 


178 


RRLIOIOUS   ALLEOORISS. 


7^  tBord  it  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a  light  unto  my  path.  Pi.  cxiJ^ 
105.  Ys  do  well  that  ye  take  heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  ahineth  in  a  dark 
place.    2  Peter  i,  19. 

THE  SURE  GUIDE. 

Ai-ONE,  bewildered,  and  in  pensive  mood, 
A  traveler  wanders  through  a  pathless  wood; 
Forward  he  goes,  then  back,  then  round  and  round  { 
And  lists  in  vain  to  catch  a  friendly  sound. 
Soon  night  o'ertakes  him  on  her  ebon  car. 
Robed  in  thick  darkness,  without  moon  or  star  J 
No  lonely  light  gleams  through  the  misty  air, 
Aod  tremblingly  he  wanders  in  despair ; 


RELIGIOUS    A^tEGORIES.  179 

At  length  he  sinks,  and  now  for  once  he  prays, 
And  lo !  a  compass  clo.-e  beside  him  lays  ; 
A  hght  he  gets  and  holds  it  at  its  side. 
That  he  may  well  consaU  the  faithful  guide  ; 
Within  his  breast  hope  now  exulting  springs. 
And  painful  doubt,  and  fear  away  he  flings  ; 
But  now  false  guides  advance  across  his  track  ; 
One  strives  with  speeches  fair  to  turn  him  back; 
Another  bawls  with  bold  and  blust'ring  shout : 
'  Here  !  through  this  pleasant  opening  lies  your  route.'* 
I  tell  you,  says  a  third,  it  is  not  so  ; 
This,  and  this  only,  is  the  way  to  go  ; 
He^huns  them  all,  and  trims  his  light  anew, 
And  heeds  his  compass,  and  it  guides  him  through. 

An  honest  traveler  having,  on  his  way  home,  to 
pass  through  a  lonely  forest,  loses  his  way.  Bewil- 
dered, he  knows  not  which  way  to  turn.  Now  he 
goes  forward  ;  now  backward.  Then  after  wander- 
ing about  for  some  time,  finds  himself  where  he  first 
starts  from.  He  is  discouraged ;  he  listens,  hoping 
to  catch  from  the  whispering  winds,  some  tidings  of 
companionship  or  safety.  'T  is  all  in  vain.  Thick 
mists  now  gather  beneath  the  leafy  canopy.  The 
shadows  of  evening  prevail,  and  night  wraps  the 
earth  in  her  mantle  of  pitchy  darkness.  He  gropes 
his  way  with  fear  and  trembling  ;  he  becomes  ex- 
hausted ;  hopeiess  and  overcome,  at  last  he  sinks  on 
the  wet  ground.  For  a  while  he  muses.  A  thought 
strikes  him — he  ^^^ll  pray.  He  lifts  up  his  hands  in 
prayer,  and  as  they  fall  again  at  his  side,  he  feels  a 
something.  Behold !  it  is  a  compass.  Now  he 
strikes  a  light,  and  looks  with  intense  interest  on  his 
new  found  guide.  Hope  now  swells  his  bosom  ;  he 
will  again  see  his  beloved  home.  Doubt  and  fear 
are  thrown  to  the  winds,  and  he  springs  up  to  pursue 
his  journey. 

As  he  moves  forward  with  a  light  in  one  hand  and 
compass  in  the  other  :  several  persons,  attracted  by 
by  the  light,  rush  towards  him  and  proffer  their  as- 


180  RELIGIOUS    ALLEG0REI8. 

sistance  ;  one  pointing  out  an  opening  to  the  left, 
roomy  and  level  withal,  with  many  fair  speeches  and 
much  earnestness,  presses  him  to  take  it.  Another 
pointing  to  the  right,  in  a  very  confident  manner,* 
urges  him  to  take  that.  It  is  smoother  and  less  ob- 
structed than  the  way  ahead.  The  traveler,  honest 
in  his  purpose  of  fin(ling  home,  and  relying  upon  his 
compass,  rejects  all  their  offers  of  advice.  He  trims 
his  lamp  afresh  •,  looks  again  at  his  guide,  and  fol- 
lowing implicitly  the  way  it  directs,  he  gets  out  of 
the  wood  and  arrives  home  in  peace. 

The  lonely  forest  denotes  this  present  world.  The 
traveler,  man  ;  home,  happiness ;  the  compass,  the 
Holy  Bible;  the  light,  the  Holy  Spirit;  the  false 
guides,  those  deceitful  directors  and  false  doctrines 
that  abound  in  the  w^orld.  The  world,  apart  from  the 
sacred  light  and  holy  influences  of  heaven,  is  dark, 
cheerless,  and  impenetrable.  Through  sin,  the  dark- 
ness of  ignorance  and  the  shadows  of  death  prevail. 
*'  Darkness  has  covered  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness 
the  minds  of  the  people." 

Every  where,  snares  and  pitfalls  abound  ;  dangers, 
pain,  and  death.  With  the  desire  of  happiness 
strongly  implanted  in  his  bosom,  man  wanders  in  the 
midst  of  misery  and  uncertainty.  What  he  is  ;  what 
he  must  do ;  whither  he  is  going  ;  he  cannot  tell. 
What  is  life  1  what  is  death  ?  He  knows  not.  He 
tastes  of  life  with  bitterness  ;  he  approaches  death 
with  horror.  If  there  is  a  God, — what  is  His  char- 
acter  ?  how  shall  he  worship  him  ?  If  there  be  a 
state  after  death,  what  is  its  nature  ?  where  is  the 
place  of  its  abode  ? 

In  this  state  of  distressing  anxiety,  he  w^anders  on, 
pathless,  guideless,  lightless,  hopeless — he  is  lost ! 
In  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  he  exclaims,  "  Who  will 
Bhow  me   any  good  ?"      "  God,  for  ever  blessed," 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOKIES.  181 

hears  his  prayer.  He  has  been  tenderly  watching 
him  while  in  trackless  mazes  lost,  and  in  His  provi- 
dence presents  him  with  a  Bible.  He  opens  it — he 
reads.  Wonderful  Book  !  It  tells  him  all  about  the 
darkness  ;  of  what  it  is  made,  and  how  it  came  to 
overspread  the  earth.  It  tells  too,  of  a  sun,  a  glori- 
ous sun,  that  can  disperse  the  gloom  :  who  he  is, 
and  how  he  becomes  the  light  of  the  world.  It 
points  out  to  him  more  distinctly  than  he  ever  saw, 
the  snares  and  pitfalls,  and  the  way  to  escape  them. 
Wherefore  pain,  and  how  to  endure  it.  Why  the 
desire  of  happiness  is  implanted  in  the  human  breast, 
and  how  it  m.ay  be  gratified.  It  makes  known  to 
him,  what  he  is ;  what  he  ought  to  do  ;  where  he  is 
going,  and  what  he  may  become.  It  tells  him  of 
life,  and  how  to  enjoy  it :  of  death,  and  how  to 
strip  it  of  its  terrors. 

It  reveals  to  him  a  God,  tremendous  in  power, 
glorious  in  holiness,  accurate  in  justice,  infinite  in 
love.  The  Almighty  Maker  and  Ruler  of  the  Uni- 
verse. It  prescribes  the  way  in  v/hich  He  would  be 
worshiped,  through  "  Jesus  Christ  the  Righteous." 
The  sacrifices  He  would  accept,  "  a  broken  and  a 
contrite  heart ;"  this  is  more  acceptable  to  Him  than 

'•'  Arabia  sacrificed 
And  all  her  spicy  mountains  in  a  flame." 

The  Bible  reveals  to  him  Futurity.  It  raises  the 
curtain  of  the  hidden  world.  Here  he  beholds  the 
tormenting  flame,  the  parched  tongue,  the  useless 
prayer  ;  there,  the  glory  of  Paradise,  the  bliss  of 
Heaven,  the  song  of  praise.  It  becomes  to  him  just 
what  he  needs.  He  has  found  a  way,  a  guide,  a  light, 
to  happiness.  Still,  he  understands  its  mijihty  truths 
but  imperfectly,  yet  he  reads  on  ;  scales  fall  from  his 
eyes  ;  he  beholds  men  as  trees  walking.  But  the 
consolations  of  hope  are  his  ;  he  has  found  God  ;  he 


182  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

seeks  for  wisdom  at  its  fount — for  light  at  its  source. 
*'  Open  my  eyes,"  he  prays,  "  that  1  may  behold  the 
wonders  of  thy  Law."  Light  celestial  shines  upon 
the  sacred  page  ;  he  reads  and  understands  enough 
for  knowledge,  enough  for  duty,  and  enough  for  hap- 
piness. 

As  soon  as  the  honest  inquirer  after  tmth  has  dis- 
covered the  right  path,  begins  to  walk  in  it,  and  lets 
his  light  shine,  numerous  false  guides  appear  and 
proffer  their  services.  While  he  w^as  stumbling 
along  in  darkness  and  in  ignorance,  the  devil  gave 
himself  no  concern  about  him.  Now  he  is  very 
much  interested  in  his  welfare.  He  sends  his  ser^ 
vants  to  put  the  poor  man  right.  One  of  these  en- 
deavors  to  dissuade  him  from  using  the  Bible,  for, 
says  he,  "  it  is  full  of  mystery  ;  it  is  impossible  to  un- 
derstand it.  I,  for  one,  will  never  believe  what  I 
can  not  understand.  Follow  reason,  that  is  the  surest 
guide."  "Indeed,  friend,"  replies  the  enlightened 
man,  "  it  was  by  following  reason  that  I  was  led  into 
the  possession  of  the  Bible,  and  my  Bible  has  led  me 
to  God.  I  acknowledge  it  is  mysterious,  wonderfully 
so ;  yet  it  has  led  me  right  hitherto,  and  I  am  deter- 
mined to  follow  it.  The  nature  of  its  secret  influ- 
ence over  my  soul,  I  can  not  tell.  The  nature  of 
the  power  by  which  it  guides  aright,  imder  all  cir- 
cumstances of  life,  I  know  not.  Neither  does  the 
mariner  understand  the  power  by  which  the  compass 
operates,  so  beneficially  under  all  circumstances  ;  of 
storm  and  calm,  light  and  darkness,  heat  and  cold. 
It  is  ever  a  sure  guide.  He  believes  in  it ;  he  fol- 
lows it.  Were  the  sailor  no  more  to  weigh  anchor 
and  spread  the  flowing  sail,  until  he  understands  the 
mysteries  of  the  compass,  verily,  he  would  have  to 
learn  another  trade,  for  ships  would  rot  in  harbor, 
commerce  would  cease,  and  intercourse  between  na- 


RELIGIOUS   ALLEGORIES.  183 

tioiis  come  to  an  end.  And  what  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark, the  common  sailor  boy  understands  just  as 
much  of  the  practical  use  of  the  compass,  as  the  cap 
tain ;  cease  then  to  persuade  me  further.  The  Bible 
is  my  compass,  my  sure  guide,  1  will  follow  it." 

Other  false  directors  of  different  names,  but  all  of 
them  having  the  same  end  in  view,  viz  :  to  make  him 
distrust  his  guide,  and  turn  him  out  of  the  way,  of- 
fer to  him  their  services  ;  some  press  the  matter  one 
way,  and  some  another.  His  reply  to  all  is,  "  Where- 
withal shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his  way,  but  by 
taking  heed  thereto  according  to  thy  word." 

Thus  he  believes  in  it  practically,  follows  its  di- 
rections implicitly,  and  it  guides  him  safely  by  every 
slough  of  despond,  over  every  mountain  of  difficulty, 
through  every  strait  of  distress,  and  every  storm  of 
tribulation,  and  conducts  him  at  last  in  triumph  to 
the  home  of  the  blessed. 

"  Take  from  the  world  the  Bible,  and  you  have  taken  the 
moral  chart  by  which  alone  its  population  can  be  guided.  Ig- 
norant of  the  nature  of  God,  and  only  guessing  at  their  own 
immortality,  the  tens  of  thousands  would  be  as  mariners,  tossed 
on  a  wide  ocean,  without  a  pole  star  and  without  a  compass. 
The  blue  lights  of  the  storm-fiend  would  bum  ever  in  the 
shrouds  ;  and  when  the  tornado  of  death  rushed  across  the 
waters,  there  would  be  heard  nothing  but  the  shriek  of  the  ter- 
rified, and  the  groan  of  the  despairing.  It  were  to  mantle  the 
earth  with  a  more  than  Egyptian  darkness ;  it  were  to  dry  up 
the  fountain  of  human  happiness ;  it  were  to  take  the  tides 
from  our  waters,  and  leave  them  stagnant,  and  the  stars  from 
our  heavens,  and  leave  them  in  sackcloth  ;  and  the  verdure 
from  our  valleys,  and  leave  them  in  barrenness ;  it  were  to 
make  the  present  all  recklessness,  and  the  future  all  hopelessness  ; 
the  maniac's  revelry,  and  then  the  fiend's  imprisonment ;  if  you 
could  annihilate  the  precious  volume  which  tells  us  of  God  and 
of  Christ,  and  unveils  immortality,  and  instructs  in  duty,  and 
woos  to  glory.  Such  is  the  Bible.  Prize  ye  it,  and  study  it 
more  and  more.  Prize  it,  as  ye  are  immortal  bemgs,  for  it 
guides  to  the  New  Jerusalem,  Prize  it,  as  ye  are  intellectual 
beings,  for  it "  giveth  light  to  the  simple," 


181 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


Abate  all  these  things  put  on  charity.    Col.  iii.  14.    Love  is  the  fulRUuut 
of  the  law.    Rom.  xiii.  10.     God  is  love.    I.  John,  iv.  8.  •'    "^ 

CHARITY  OR  LOVE. 

The  seraph  Charity  from  heaven  descends. 
And  o'er  the  world  on  shining  phiions  hands  ; 
Round  mourning  mortals  tender  as  a  dove, 
She  spreads  lierwin?  and  soothes  'n  tones  of  love  ; 
Pours  hving  bahn  into  the  wounded  breast. 
And  aids  the  beggar  though  in  tatters  drest ; 
The  orphan's  plaint  she  heeds,  and  widow's  sigh. 


EELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  185 

And  smiles  away  the  tear  from  sorrow's  eye. 
Like  some  fair  founi  that  through  the  desert  flows. 
Fringed  witli  the  myrtle  and  the  Persian  rose. 
She  scatters  hlessings  all  along  her  track, 
•And  hope  and  joy  to  want  and  woe  brings  back, 
And  when  the  last  faint  sob  is  heard  no  more. 
Up  to  her  native  bowers  again  she  '11  soar. 

Behold  here  a  being  of  heavenly  appearance.  The 
light  of  love  iiTadiates  her  ])row  ;  her  eyes  melt  with 
tenderness  ;  her  countenance  wears  the  aspect  of 
benevolence  ;  her  he.irt  bleeds  with  5>-mpathy ;  her 
hands  are  strong  to  save  ;  the  commisserating  Angel 
has  come  from  a  far  distiint  part  ;  on  the  wings  of  love 
and  compassion  she  has  come  ;  she  has  left  all  to 
succor  and  to  save  the  helpless,  the  wretched,  and 
the  lost. 

See  her  at  her  Godlike  work.  In  the  foreground 
she  is  raising  a  miserable  being  in  rags  and  tatters 
from  a  pit  of  mire  and  filth.  U'ith  her  right  hand 
she  is  pouring  the  balm  of  life  into  the  wounds  of 
Ihe  dying.  Look  behind  her;  see  the  widow  and 
the  fatherless.  They  have  come  to  bless  her  ;  with 
hearts  gushing  with  gratefid  emotion  they  follow  her 
with  their  praise  ;  she  has  rescued  them  from  the 
gripe  of  the  oppressor ;  they  were  hungry  and  she 
fed  them,  naked  and  she  clothed  them,  and  their  prav- 
ers  like  a  cloud  of  incense  go  up  to  heaven- in  behalf 
of  their  compassionate  friend.  Betore  she  leaves  the 
district  of  pain,  want  and  wTetcbedness,  Charity, 
for  that  is  her  name,  builds  a  house  for  the  reception 
of  the  distressed  ;  here  she  provides  what  is  neces- 
sar}',  appoints  her  officers  and  attendants,  leaves 
wholesome  instiuctions,  then  amid  the  praises,  thanks- 
givings and  benedictions  of  those  whom  her  love  has 
blessed,  she  spreads  again  her  wings  and  soars  to 
her  own  abode,  there  to  banquet  on  the  remembrance 
of  her  deeds. 


1  8G  RELIGIOUS    ALLKGOKIES. 

This  engraving  roprr-sents,  firsi  of  all,  the  divine 
Charity  of  the  ever  blessed  Redeenior.  He  left  the 
glories  and  happiness  of  heaven  to  visit  our  diseased, 
our  lost  world.  Beaming  with  love,  melting  with 
tenderness,  filled  with  benevolence,  on  the  wings  of 
compassion  he  flew  to  our  relief.  How  compassion- 
ate !  how  spnpathizing  !  He  becomes  a  slave  him.self 
that  he  may  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives,  and 
the  opening  of  the  prison  doors  to  them  which  are 
bound,  and  that  he  might  proclaim  the  acceptable  year 
of  the  Lord.  See  Him  at  his  work  of  mercy.  The 
world  is  an  aceldama,  a  vast  Lazar  house,  a  conquered 
province,  subject  to  sin  and  death.  He  scatters  health 
around  him  ;  he  gives  eyesight  to  the  helpless  blind ; 
he  bids  the  lame  to  walk  ;  the  hungry  he  fills  with 
good  things  ;  the  very  dead  he  restores  to  life  and 
joy.  He  beholds  the  iveeping  widow,  and  hastens  to 
wipe  away  her  tears.  Fie  visits  the  house  of  mourn- 
ing and  fills  it  with  tli^^  ^ong  of  praise. 

Behold  Him  ascend  die  Mount  of  Blessing.  He 
takes  his  seat;  heavenly  light  shines  around  him; 
the  majesty  of  holiness  encircles  his  brow.  Love, 
divine  love,  looks  out  from  his  wondrous  eyes  ;  the 
manna  of  wisdom  drops  from  his  lips  ;  he  assembles 
around  him  the  poor — the  mourners — the  persecuted, 
and  showers  upon  them  the  blessings  of  an  endless 
life.  He  rescued  the  conquered  province  from  the 
grasp  of  the  foe  ;  destroyed  the  power  of  death,  and 
opened  unto  man  the  portals  of  immortal  Life.  "He 
wept  that  man  might  smile  ;  he  bled  that  man  might 
never  die  ;  he  seized  our  dreadful  right,  the  load  sus- 
tained, and  hove  the  mountain  from  our  guilty  world." 
He  established  his  Church  as  an  Hospital  for  the 
spiritually  diseased  ;  appointed  his  own  ministers  and 
officers ;  gave  his  own  laws  for  the  guidance  thereof, 
and  having  perfected  his  work  of  Charity,  he  ascended 


\ 


RELIOIOOS    ALLEGORIES.  187 

again  to  the  mansions  of  bliss,  there  to  see  the  effects 
"  of  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied."  As  wag 
the  divine  Founder,  such  is  the  religion  he  established. 
Christianity  is  a  noble  system  of  Charity.  It  teaches 
man  to  feel  another's  woe  ;  to  seek  another's  good  ; 
to  breathe,  instead  of  revenge,  forgiveness  and  affec- 
tion ;  for  the  aged,  the  halt,  the  maimed  and  the  blind, 
it  erects  asylums  of  comfort  and  repose  :  for  the  suf- 
fering and  the  sick,  Hospitals  ;  and  above  ail,  taking 
into  account  man's  spiritual  wants,  man's  deathless 
interests  as  a  candidate  for  eternity,  it  provides  tern- 
pies  for  religious  worship,  where  the  ignorant  may 
be  instructed,  the  guilty  pardoned,  the  polluted  sanc- 
tified, and  made  meet  for  heaven.  Other  religions 
are  a  fable — a  delusion — a  shadow.  Christianity  is 
alone  benevolent ;  in  its  Founder,  in  its  essence, 
and  in  its  operations,  intensely  benevolent. 

Infidelity,  in  all  its  appeals,  professes  Charity  and 
benevolence.  What  have  its  apostles  done  to  benefit 
mankind  ?  In  what  book  are  their  "  Acts"  recorded  ? 
To  what  lands  have  they  carried  the  blessings  of  civi- 
lization? what  prisons  have  they  opened  ?  what  chains 
have  they  snapt  asunder  ?  where  are  the  tombs  of 
their  martyrs  ?  where  the  trophies  of  their  success  ? 
Infidelity  is  cruel,  earthly,  sensual  and  devilish. 
Witness  its  day  of  trimnph  in  France.  Tnie,  it 
opened  the  doors  of  the  Bastile,  but  it  was  only  to 
lead  the  inmates  to  the  guillotine.  It  demolished  the 
walls,  but  it  was  only  to  build  out  of  the  ruins  thereof 
a  hundred  dimgeons,  if  possible  still  more  gloomy 
and  terrible.  The  reign  of  Infidelity  is  the  "reign 
of  terror."  "  The  infant  comes  into  the  world  with- 
out a  blessing,  the  aged  leaves  it  without  hope." 
The  house  of  mercy  is  closed  ;  the  book  of  mercy  is 
burnt ;  the  ministers  of  mercy  are  slaughtered ;  the 
God  of  mercy  is  banished  ;  vea,  a  watch  is  set  upon 
54 


188  RELIGI0U8    ALLEGOKIES. 

the  tomb  that  the  dead  may  rise  no  more.     Infidelity 

"  like  Samson  in  his  wrath, 
Plucking  the  jiillnrs  that  support  the  world, 
Fair  Charity  in  ruins  lios  entombed. 
'•  And  jnidni^ht,  universal  midnight  reigns." 

As  is  the  founder  of  Christianity,  and  as  is  Chris- 
tianity itself,  such  also  is  the  disciple;  he  goes  about 
'o'mrr  good  ;  he  is  the  Jordan  in  its  fullness  ;  he,  lika 
the  Nile,  leaves  behind  him  the  seeds  of  a  new  ere 
ation  ;  he  seeks  out  the  helpless  and  the  destitute-; 
he  visits  the  widows  and  the  fatherless  in  their  afflic- 
tion, and  soothes  and  wipes  away  their  tears  ;  he 
understands  and  appreciates  the  heaven-born  senti- 
ment, "  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 
Hence,  "  when  the  ear  hears  of  him  it  blesses  him, 
when  the  eye  sees  him  it  gives  witness  for  him,  and 
the  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  comes 
upon  him." 

The  disciple  however  views  man  in  his  relation  to 
both  worlds,  as  possessing  a  deathless  spirit;  as  a 
candidate  for  eternity  ;  as  an  ignorant,  helpless  and 
guilty  sinner,  unholy  and  unclean,  and  yet  redeemed 
by  the  blood  of  Christ.  He  will,  as  far  as  possible, 
instruct  his  ignorance  and  point  him  to  the  Savior. 
Tiiie  Charity  acts  from  motives  of  love  to  God  as 
well  as  man.  Hence  infjratitude  does  not  restrain 
him,  nor  opposition  make  him  afraid.  He  lays  up  a 
foundation  against  the  time  to  come  ;  and  when  he 
shall  have  sown  the  seeds  of  Benevolence  here,  he 
will  reap  a  harvest  of  everlasting  love  ;  for  "  what- 
oever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap." 

"  True  Charity,  a  plant  divinely  nursed. 
Yet  by  the  love  from  which  it  rose  at  first, 
Thrives  against  hope,  and,  in  the  rudesi  scene. 
Storms  but  enliven  its  unfading  green. 
Exuberant  is  the  shadow  it  suppliea. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


15'J 


Its  fruits  on  earth,  its  growth  above  the  skies, 

To  look  at  him,  who  formed  us  and  redeemed, 

So  glorious  now,  though  once  so  disesteemed, 

To  see  a  God  stretch  forth  his  human  hand, 

To  uphold  the  boundless  scenes  of  his  command  ; 

To  recollect  that  in  a  form  like  ours. 

He  bruised  beneath  his  feet  the  infernal  powers  ; 

Captivity  led  captive,  ro?e  to  claim 

The  wreath  he  won  so  dearly  in  our  name. 

Like  him  the  soul,  thu^  kindled  from  above. 

Spreads  wide  her  arms  of  universal  love ; 

And,  still  enlarged  as  she  receives  the  grace. 

Includes  creation  in  her  close  embrace." 


"  Charity  is  placed  at  the  head  of  all  the  Christian  virtues 
by  St.  Paul,  the  ablest  divine  that  ever  graced  a  pulpit  or 
wielded  a  pen.  It  is  the  sub-stratum  of  philanthropy,  the 
brighest  star  in  the  Christian's  diadem.  It  spurns  the  scrofula 
of  green-eyed  jealousy,  the  canker  of  tormenting  envy,  the 
tortures  of  burning  malice,  the  typhoid  of  foaming  revenge. 
It  is  an  impartial  mirror,  set  in  the  frame  of  love,  resting  on 
equity  and  justice.  It  is  the  foundation  and  cap  stone  of  the 
climax  of  all  the  Christian  graces — without  it,  our  religion  is 
like  a  body  without  a  soul — our  friendships,  shadows  of  a 
shadow — our  alms,  the  offsprings  of  pride,  or,  what  is  more 
detestable,  the  offerings  of  hypocrisy — our  humanity,  a  mere 
iceberg  on  the  ocean  of  time — we  are  unfit  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  life,  and  derange  the  design  of  our  creation.  Wars 
and  rumors  of  wars  would  cease — envy,  jealousy,  and  revenge, 
would  hide  their  diminished  heads — falsehood,  slander,  and 
persecution  would  be  unknown — sectarian  walls,  in  matters  of 
religion,  would  crumble  in  dust.  Pure  and  undefiled  religion 
would  then  be  honored  and  glorified — primitive  Christianity 
would  stand  forth,  divested  of  the  inventions  of  men,  in  all  the 
majesty  of  its  native  loveliness — the  victories  of  the  cross 
would  be  rapidly  achieved — and  the  bright  day  be  ushered  in, 
when  Jesus  shall  rule,  King  of  nations,  as  he  now  does  King 
of  saints, ' — Frobt. 


190 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEOOKIBS. 


Pride  goeth  before  destruction,  and  an  kaughty  spirit  before  a  fall    Prov 
zvi.  18.     He  giveth  grace,  unto  the  lowly.    Prov.  iii.  34. 

PRIDE  AND  HUMILITY. 

Rising  in  fair  proportion  side  by  side, 

Behold  the  stages  of  Progressive  Pride; 

Bespcctability  begins  the  course  ; 

'T  is  his  who  has— all  told— a  well  filled  purse  ; 

High  as  his  neighbor  sure  he  'd  like  to  feel, 

So  takes  the  next  step,  and  is  quite  GenUel; 

By  many  nets  for  which  he'd  fain  write — blank, 


RKLIGIOU.S    ALLEGORIES.  191 

He  6wt-lls  and  struts  at  length  a  man  o{  Bank  ; 

The  chair  of  state  he  next  ascends,  that  Fame 

May  faithfully  transmit  his  Honored  name  ; 

He  meets  a  rival  here,  and — woe  to  tell. 

He  sends  his  rival  in  a  trice  to — hell  ; 

A  thousand  i^hots  lik*:  that,  and  strange  to  say, 

Right  up  to  Glory  he  has  won  his  way. 

Pride  walks  a  thorny  path  ;  it  nothing  bears 

But  swords  and  pistols,  blood,  and  groans,  and  tears. 

Far  different  in  the  happy  vale,  behold 
Humility  at  ease,  unc-ursed  with  gold  ; 
With  competence  content,  with  wisdom  blessed  ; 
In  peace  he  dwells,  care-sing  and  cares-ed  ; 
No  thorns  beset  his  path,  there  only  grows 
The  bending  corn,  the  violet,  snd  the  rose  ; 
Truth,  beauty,  innocence,  at  once  combine, 
And  o'er  his  pathway  sheds  a  light  divine  ; 
And  when  he  leaves  the  vale,  to  him  'lis  given, 
To  walk  amid  the  bowers  of  bliss  in  heaven. 

This  engraving  shows  a  nade  mass  of  rocks  rising 
from  the  valley  below.  They  appear  to  be  thrown 
up  by  some  volcanic  explosion,  or  forced  up  by  the 
agency  of  subterranean  tires,  they  are  so  steep,  rug- 
ged and  unequal.  On  the  tops  of  the  ledges  are 
seen  bushes  of  thorns,  high,  and  spreading  in  all  di- 
rections.  On  the  first  ledge  is  a  man  who  has  scram, 
bled  up  with  some  difficulty  to  the  place  he  now 
occupies.  His  object  is  to  get  as  high  as  he  can, 
and  he  is  seen  about  to  place  himself  on  the  eleva- 
tion of  Gentility.  On  the  next  ridge  is  seen  a  man 
and  woman,  who  appear  to  think  a  good  deal  of 
themselves.  They  stmt  and  swell  like  peacocks, 
although  behind  and  before  danger  threatens.  A 
little  higher  see !  there  is  murder  committed.  One 
man  has  shot  at,  and  killed  his  brother,  just  because 
he  would  not  move  faster  out  of  his  way,  although 
there  was  room  enough  for  both.  At  the  end  of  the 
rocks  and  above  all,  is  a  man  in  unifoiTn.  He  has 
attained  the  highest  pinnacle.    Thunder  and  lightning 


193  BELIOIOUa    ALLEOOBIES. 

attend  his  path  ;  storms  gather  round  him.  Ai.man  of 
thick  skin,  no  doubt ;  thorns  could  not  scratch  him, 
nor  daggers  pierce  him,  nor  bullets  kill  him.  Hit 
glory,  however,  is  almost  gone.  The  next  step  ht' 
takes  he  falls,  and  disappears. 

A  more  pleasing  picture  presents  itself  to  us  below 
A  lovely  vale  opens  enriched  and  adorned  with  thf 
choicest  of  fiTiits  and  flowers  of  paradise  ;  there  the 
fountains  pour  forth  their  living  streams.  The  com 
bends  gracefully  to  the  passing  zephyr.  The  lowl} 
violet  rears  her  beauteous  head  in  the  friendly  shade 
the  rose  of  Sharon  decks  the  border  ;  the  father 
mother,  and  little  one  are  seen  walking  together  along 
this  beautiful  valley,  with  Wisdom  for  their  guide. 
The  air  is  filled  with  fragrance  and  sweet  sounds ; 
no  thorns  grow  there  to  obstruct  their  path  ;  no  light- 
ning's  flash,  nor  thunder's  roar,  makes  them  afraid. 
Safe,  peaceful  and  happy,  they  pass  along,  while 
Truth,  Beauty,  and  Innocence,  irradiate  their  pathway 
that  leads  directly  to  their  own  sequestered  cottage. 

This  is  an  allegorical  representation  of  Pride  and 
Humility.  The  shelving  rocks  denote  the  rugged 
and  thorny  path  of  Pride.  The--  way  is  raised  by 
the  agency  of  the  devil.  Having  ruined  himself  by 
pride,  he  seeks  to  bring  man  into  me  same  condem- 
nation ;  he  tempts  the  children  of  men  to  walk  on  it. 
The  Most  High  has  planted  it  with  thorns,  made  it 
difficult  in  order  to  deter  men  from  walking  on  it. 
Notwithstanding  this  merciful  precaution,  it  is  crowd- 
ed with  adventurers.  Nothing  shows  the  fallen  char- 
acter of  man,  more  than  his  silly  and  presumptuous 
pride,  at  once  stupid  and  wicked. 

*'  Of  all  the  causes  which  conspire  to  blind 
"  Man's  erring  judgment,  and  misguide  his  mind, 
"  What  the  weak  head  with  strongest  bias  niles, 
"  Is  Pride,  the  never-failing  vice  of  foola  j 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  1  93 

"  Wliatever  nature  has  in  worth  denied, 

"  She  gives  in  large  recruits  of  needful  pride  ; 

"  For  as  in  bodies,  thus  in  souls,  we  find 

"  What  wants  in  biood  and  spirits,  swelled  with  wind  ; 

"  Pride,  where  wit  fails,  steps  in  to  our  defense, 

"  And  fills  up  ail  the  mighty  void  of  sense." 

A  man  becomes  possessed  of  a  little  gold,  and  he 
all  at  once  becomes  blind,  or  at  least  he  sees  things 
in  a  very  different  light  from  what  he  did  once.  He 
himself  is  altogether  another  man.  He  wonders  that 
he  never  before  discovered  his  own  merit.  He  no 
longer  associates  with  his  former  friends  ;  Oh  no  ! 
they  are  not  respectable.  He  wishes  to  be  consid- 
ered a  gentleman  :  he  wdll  no  longer  work  ;  he  is 
above  that.  He  sees  his  neighbor  living  in  a  higher 
style  than  he  does,  he  is  discontented.  The  thorns 
already  begin  to  scratch  him.  Pride,  however,  can 
bear  a  little  pain.  Pride  is  very  prolific.  The  man 
under  its  influence  soon  gets  peevish,  envious,  and 
revengeful.  The  remonstrances  of  conscience  are 
silenced,  and  he  gives  himself  up  to  the  guidance  of 
Ambition. 

He  next  aspires  after  rank  and  fashion  ;  but  Pride 
is  very  ejcpensive.  In  order  to  keep  up  appearances, 
he  does  many  things  that  at  one  time,  he  would  never 
have  thought  of  doing.  He  can  lie,  and  be  very 
respectable.  He  can  overreach  and  defraud  his 
neighbor,  and  yet  be  respectaljle.  He  can  seduce 
the  innocent  and  unsu-pecting,  and  destroy  the  hap- 
piness of  entli-e  families,  and  still  be  considered  re- 
spectable. By  his  slanders  he  has  ruined  the  repu- 
tation of  more  than  one.  By  his  unrighteous  schemes 
he  attains  the  present  object  of  his  proud  heart,  and 
moves  among  the  circles  of  rank  and  fashion. 

Yet  his  soul  is  restless.  It  is  like  the  troubled 
sea ;  he  pants  for  Power.  He  pursues  after  honors, 
that  the  trump  of  fame  may  sound  his  name  abroad, 


191  KELIOIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

and  hand  it  down  faithfully  to  posterity.  He  becomes 
now  a  candidate  for  high  office.  In  his  own  opinion 
he  possesses  every  qualification  ;  he  is  astonislied 
that  the  world  should  be  so  blind  to  his  many  excel- 
lencies.  He  here  meets  with  a  competitor — he 
wishes  him  out  of  his  way.  "  From  pride  comes 
contentioii ;"  he  picks  a  quarrel  with  his  rival.  The 
challenge  succeeds  ;  the  duel  is  fought,  and  his  an- 
tagonist falls  weltering  in  his  blood.  He  triumphs. 
Ah  !  unhappy  man  !  Remorse  is  his  companion  for- 
ever— the  ghost  of  the  murdered  haunts  him  contin- 
ually. 

He  is  installed  in  office.  He  scrables  at  nothing 
that  will  but  increase  his  power  ;  the  man's  pride 
knows  no  bounds — he  aspires  now  after  conquest 
and  dominion.  He  will  be  a  Hero  ;  he  will  attain 
the  high  pinnacle  of  military  renown  and  glory.  War, 
fearful,  devastating  war,  goes  before  him ;  Famine 
and  Pestilence  attend  him  ;  Ruin  and  Misery  follow 
close  behind,  but  "Pride  goeth  before  destruction  !" 
There  are  others  who  wish  him  out  of  the  way.  A 
shot  from  his  own  ranks  cuts  him  down.  From  his 
high  elevation  he  is  brought  low.  His  glory  is  de- 
parted. 

"  Heroes  are  much  the  same,  the  point's  agreed, 
"  From  Macedonia's  madman  to  the  Swede  ; 
"  Mark  by  what  wretched  steps  their  glory  grows, 
"  From  dirt  and  seaweed  as  proud  Venice  rose  ; 
"  In  (I'aoh  how  guilt  and  greatness  equal  ran, 
"  And  all  ihat  raised  the  hero  ^^unk.  the  man." 

The  mnn  with  his  family  in  the  happy  vale,  repre- 
sent-; Ihimilify.  The  passions  seldom  operate  alone; 
humility  Ix'gets  contentment  and  peace.  He  is  sat- 
isfied with  the  position  God  has  given  him.  He  has 
learned  from  the  book  of  wisdom  that  happiness  con- 
sists not  in  the  abundance  of  things  which  a  man 


BELIOIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  195 

may  possess  ;  hence  contentment  is  his  safe -guard. 
He  has  no  desire  to  ascend  the  rugged  path  of  pride  ; 
he  drinks  wisdom  and  knowledge  from  the  fountain 
of  TiTJth — he  quaffs  pleasure  at  the  springs  of  do- 
mestic bliss.  His  greatest  treasure  is  a  good  con- 
science— his  highest  ambition  to  walk  humbly  witli 
his  God.  Free  from  the  consuming  cares,  the  tor 
turing  desires,  the  fierce  passions,  the  dreadful  fears, 
and  gnawing  conscience  of  the  man  of  Pride,  he  en- 
joys peace.  He  labors  to  discharge  all  the  duties  of 
his  station,  with  an  eye  single,  doing  all  to  the  glory 
of  God.  His  present  path  is  safe,  peaceful  and 
happy,  and  his  hope  of  the  future,  blessed  and  glorious. 

"  Far  from  the  madding  crowd's  ignoble  strife, 
"  Their  sober  wishes  never  learned  to  stray  ; 
"  Along  the  cool,  sequestered  vale  of  life, 
"  They  keep  the  nois»iles3  tenor  of  their  way," 

Behold  how  great  is  the  difference  between  Hu- 
mility and  Pride.  Pride  assumes  an  elevated  posi- 
tion, and  looks  down  with  contempt  on  all  beneath. 
Humility  is  content  with  a  lowly  seat,  and  mingles 
kindly  with  the  brotherhood  of  man.  Pride  climbs  a 
steep,  dry,  and  rugged  path,  beset  with  thorns  and 
briars.  Humility  walks  the  verdant  vale  amid  rip- 
pling brooks,  blushing  corn,  and  flowers  of  vernal 
beauty.  Pride  occupies  a  dangerous  place  ;  even 
nature  contends  against  him.  The  thunder,  the 
lightning,  and  the  storm,  encompass  him  about. 
Humility  walks  with  nature,  and  her  path  is  safe. 
Pride  is  tormented  with  cares,  fears,  and  vain  desires. 
Humility  enjoys  the  peace  of  God  that  passeth  un- 
derstanding. Pride  works  all,  and  endures  all,  to  be 
seen  of  dying  men.  Humility  courts  the  eye  only 
of  the  living  God.  The  path  of  Pride  leads  to 
shame  and  everlasting  contempt ;  that  of  Humility  to 
Honor,  Glory,  and  Eternal  Life. 
35 


196 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


JVhosoecer  will  lose  his  life  for  my  sake  sliall  save  it.  Luke  ix.  24. — He  diei 
for  all. — 2  Cor.  v.  15,  We  ought  to  lay  down  our  Uvea  for  the  brethren. 
—1  John,  iii.  16, 

THE  SACRIFICE. 

See  here  the  Warriors  on  the  battle-field. 

In  dread  array  with  gleaming  spear  and  shield  ; 

They  rush  together  with  the  mighty  roar 

Of  stormy  ocean  on  a  rock-bound  shore ; 

Shields  strike  on  shields,  helmets  on  helmets  clash* 

In  pools  of  purple  gore  the  Legions  splash. 


BELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


197 


From  Latiuni's  host  the  sound  of  triumph  rings. 

And  Victory  guides  them  on  her  crimson  wingsj 

Then  the  brave  Roman,  fired  with  patriot  zeal. 

His  life  devoted  for  his  countiys  weal  ; 

The  victors  then  in  dire  amazement  stood^ 

As  on  he  swept  like  a  destroying  iiood  ; 

His  blood-stained  sword  through  crest  and  corselet  sank, 

Like  Death's  own  angel,  swift  he  strewed  each  rank  : 

At  length  he  fell, — and  Rome's  proud  banner  waved 

Jts  folds  triumphant  o'er  a  nation  saved. 

Behold,  here,  the  battle-field  ;  the  warriors  are 
seen  arrayed  in  all  the  pompous  circumstance  of  war. 
Armed  with  shield  and  javelin,  they  stand  prepared 
for  dreadful  combat.  See  I  the  ranks  are  broken  ; 
ene  is  seen  iiishing  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy — on 
he  sweeps  like  a  tornado — right  and  left  he  hurls  the 
blood-stained  spear ;  he  cuts  his  way  through — the 
foe,  astounded  at  his  daring  intrepidity,  give  back. 
Again  they  rally,  and  the  hero  falls  covered  with  a 
hundred  wounds  ;  he  has,  however,  effected  his  object 
— ^the  ranks  are  broken  ;  his  comrades  follow  up  the 
advantage  thus  gained — rushing  into  the  breach  they 
rout  the  foe,  and  soon  victory  sits  perched  upon  their 
banner. 

The  Romans,  being  at  one  time  engaged  in  battle 
against  the  Latins,  the  latter  had  the  advantage,  and 
victory  was  about  to  decide  in  their  favor,  when  Pub- 
lius  Decius,  observing  how  things  went,  fired  with  a 
generous  zeal,  determined  to  sacrifice  his  life  for 
his  countj-y's  welfare.  He  threw  himself  upon  the 
ranlvs  of  the  enemy,  and  after  having  committed  great 
slaughter  among  them,  fell,  overwhehned  with  wounds. 
His  countrjinen,  inspired  by  his  heroic  example, 
rallied  their  forces,  renewed  the  combat,  fought  with 
great  bravery,  and  gained  a  complete  victory.  De- 
cius left  behind  hiiri  a  son,  who  in  like  manner  sacri- 
ficed his  life  in  a;  war  with  the  Etruscans ;  also,  a 


195  RELIGIOUS    A.LLEG0RIE8. 

grandson  who  sacrificed  himself  in  the  war  waged 
against  Pyrrhus.  His  example  influenced  his  coun- 
trymen down  to  the  last  of  the  Romans. 

The  hero  sacrificing  his  life  for  his- country's  good, 
represents  the  Christian  Missionary  falling  in  the 
mi  l.^t  of  heathen  lands.  The  young  man  already 
belongs  to  the  sacramental  host ;  devoutly  attached 
to  his  Saviour,  burning  with  zeal  for  his  glory,  he 
longs  to  do  something  to  advance  his  kingdom  on  the 
earth.  The  tw^o  armies  he  knows  are  in  the  field  ; 
long,  fierce  and  bloody,  has  been  the  contest.  O  !  if 
he  were  permitted  to  turn  the  battle  to  the  gate. 
That  he  may  see  distinctly  the  state  of  things,  he  as- 
cends the  mount  of  Vision  ;  in  one  direction  he  be- 
holds Africa  bleeding  and  prostrate  beneath  the 
powers  of  evil — he  sees  tribe  waging  against  tribe 
bloody  and  cruel  wars ;  rivers  run  red  with  the  blood  of 
its  slaughtered  millions ;  its  mountains  are  crimsoned 
with  human  sacrifices ;  its  vallies  resound  with  the 
wild  yells  of  demon-worshippers.  In  Central  Africa 
he  sees  forty  millions  ignorant,  cmel  and  supersti- 
tious, covered  with  the  blackness  of  night ;  every 
where  cruelty  reigns  rampant,  enslaving  and  destroy- 
ing millions  of  immortal  souls  ;  and  as  he  bends  over 
this  mass  of  woe,  he  thinks  he  hears  Africa  "  weep- 
ing for  her  children"  as  she  "stretches  out  her  hands 
unto  God." 

He  turns  his  eyes  in  another  direction,  and  he  be- 
holds China — vast,  populous  China :  an  infidel  refine- 
ment, mixed  with  abominable  vices  prevails ;  one 
vast  chain  binds  them  fast  to  the  pictured  idols  of 
their  own  creating;  there  they  are  ignorant  of  Jeho- 
vah, and  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  has  sent ;  without 
hope  in  the  world. 

He  ventures  to  look  still  further.  Now  ho  beholds 
Ihe  myriads  of  India  crushed  beneath  a  gi^mtic  s^- 


RELIGIOUS    AILEGORIES.  199 

tern  of  error — the  gro\%ih  of  ages.  The  rivers  as 
they  roll,  the  mountains  as  they  rise,  the  vallies  as 
they  open,  all  proclaim  the  deep  degradation  of  the 
people.  "  They  have  priests,  but  they  are  imposters 
and  murderers  ;  and  altars — but  they  are  stained 
with  human  blood  ;  and  objects  of  worship — but  they 
acrifice  to  devils  and  not  to  God.  The  countless 
nass  is  at  worship — before  the  throne  of  Satan, 
glowing  as  with  th^:^  heat  of  an  Lifernal  furnace — 
with  rage,  lust,  and  cruelty,  for  their  religious  emo- 
tions. He  looks  again  ;  their  demon-worship  is  over, 
but  are  they  satisfied  ?  How  eager  their  looks  !  how 
objectless  and  restless  their  movements  !  how  the 
living  mass  of  misery  heaves  and  surges,  and  groans 
and  travails  in  pain  together.  He  beholds  them  "  as 
travellers  into  Eternity ;  how  vast  the  procession 
they  form,  how  close  their  ranks,  how  continuous  the 
line,  how  constant  and  steady  the  advance  !  an  angry 
cloud  hangs  over  them— which  moves  as  they  move 
— and  ever  and  anon  emits  a  lurid  flash  ;  it  is  stored 
with  the  materials  of  judicial  wrath.  Thousands  of 
them  have  reached  the  edge  of  a  tremendous  gulph — 
it  is  the  gulph  of  perdition,  and  they  are  standing  on 
the  very  brink.  God  of  mercy,  they  are  falling  over. 
They  are  gone  !" 

Finally  he  looks  at  home  ;  here,  in  his  own  be- 
oved  land,  he  sees  millions  of  immortal  souls,  for 
whom  Christ  died,  shut  up  in  unbelief  and  ignorance. 
Slaves,  doomed  to  labor  in  despair,  and  to  die  without 
hope. 

"  From  Greenland's  icy  mountains. 

From  India's  coral  strand. 
Where  Afric's  sunny  fountains 

Roll  down  their  golden  sand ; 
From  many  an  ancient  river, 

From  many  a  palmy  plain, 
They  call  him  to  deliver 

Their  land  from  error's  chain.* 


200  KEHGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

He  hears  the  call ;  it  sinks  deep  into  his  heart. 
He  burns  to  carry  to  Africa  the  tidings  of  the  God 
of  Love — to  China  the  system  of  Eternal  Truth — to 
India  the  sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  God — to  his  op- 
pressed countrymen  the  Liberty  that  maketh  "free 
indeed."  Viewing  the  vast  and  deadly  plague  that 
desolates  the  earth,  he  longs  to  carry  into  the  midst 
thereof  the  censer  of  incense,  that  the  plague  may 
be  stayed,  and  spiritual  health  every  where  estab- 
lished. In  the  spirit  of  devotion  he  exclaims,  "  here 
am  I,  send  me." 

"  My  life  and  blood  I  here  present, 
If  for  thy  truth  they  may  be  spent." 

Now  he  selects  his  field  of  labor ;  the  tear  of  love 
and  friendship  bedews  his  cheek — the  parting  hand 
is  given — the  last  farewell  breaks  from  his  trembling 
lips — he  flies  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  to  meet  the 
foe.  Soon  he  is  at  the  post  of  duty ;  he  flings  the 
torch  of  heavenly  love  into  the  midst  of  midnight 
darkness  ;  powerfully  he  wields  the  sword  of  truth 
against  gigantic  forms  of  error.  He  wrestles  with 
the  man  of  sin  and  prevails  ;  the  might  of  God  is 
with  him  ;  the  enemy  falls  before  him  ;  he  takes  pos- 
session of  his  strong  places.  The  banner  of  Em- 
manuel opens  its  folds  triumphant  to  the  breeze; 
soon  the  infant  Church  lifts  up  its  voice,  "  hosanna, 
hosanna  in  the  highest." 

But  in  the  sti-uggle  the  Hero  falls.  Through  the 
influence  of  the  deadly  climate,  or  through  the  dead- 
lier passion  of  the  ferocious  natives,  he  falls.  Far 
from  home  and  friends  he  falls,  and  "  unknelled  and 
uncoflined"  he  is  borne  to  the  house  appointed  to  all 
the  living ;  the  earth  closes  over  him  ;  not  a  stone 
tells  where  he  lies ;  but  his  object  is  effected,  the 
seed  is  sown.     The  tree  of  Liie  is  planted,  whose 


( 


RELIGIOUR    ALLEGORIES.  201 

leaves  shall  be  for  the  healing  of  a  nation's  curse. 
The  nation  that  smote  him  by  and  by  shall  remember 
him  whom  they  pierced,  and  mourn  deeply  because 
of  the  madness  of  their  guilt.  He  is  crouTied  with 
glory,  honor,  and  immortality ;  the  brightest  diadem 
in  heaven's  own  gift  is  his  ;  he  wears  it  as  his  due. 

He  has  fallen,  but  like  Samson,  he  slew  more  d>ang  than 
when  he  was  alive.  The  Temple  of  Error  is  overthrown,  the 
tree  of  gospel  liberty  is  watered  by  the  blood  of  its  martyrs  ; 
thus  has  it  ever  been,  from  th«  time  of  the  proto-martyr  to  him 
of  Erromanga.  Every  stroke  received  is  a  victor\'  gained, 
every  death  a  triumph.  The  sacrificing  spirit  of  the  brave 
Roman  lived  in  his  immediate  descendants  and  fired  a  whole 
nation  with  the  love  of  heroic  deeds  ;  it  is  so  with  the  Chris- 
tian Hero,  and  to  much  belter  purpose.  Living  he  was  located  ; 
his  sphere  of  usefulness  was  limited  ;  now  he  possesses  a 
ubiquity  of  presence  ;  he  is  every  where  animating  the  Church 
of  God  by  his  example  ;  and  she  is  animated — the  spot  where 
he  fell  becomes  a  recognized  part  of  her  possessions.  Others 
rush  forward  and  secure  the  prize.  Every  one  of  his  wounds 
become  more  effective  and  eloquent  than  fne  mouth  of  the  liv- 
ing orator,  speaking  through  all  time.  Dying,  he  becomes  an 
immortal,  his  very  name  becomes  a  watch-word — his  deeds,  a 
memorial  unto  all  generations  ;  his  heroic  example,  a  glorious 
inheritance.  If  the  offering  of  the  widow's  mites  have  con- 
Btituted  so  rich  a  treasury  to  the  Church,  how  much  more  shall 
the  sacrifice  of  the  Christian  Hero  open  to  her  a  mine  of 
wealth,  at  once  precious  and  inexhaustible. 

"  'T  is  now  the  time  of  strife  and  war. 
The  contest  sounds  on  every  side  ; 
Nations  are  bound  to  Satan's  car. 
And  who  shall  meet  him  in  his  pride  1 
Is  there  no  arm  his  power  to  break  ] 
Are  there  no  hearts  that  deeply  feel  ] 
Sons  of  the  kingdom  !  rise,  awake  ! 
Obey,  at  length,  your  Saviour's  will. 
Go,  bear  the  gospel  banner  forth. 
Its  glittering  web  of  light  unroll, 
To  gleam  sublime  from  south  to  north. 
And  scatter  light  firorxi  pole  to  pole  ** 


50-2 


RBLIOTOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


Whotoever  therefore,  shall  be  ashamed  of  me — of  him  shall  the  Son  of  Man 
be  ashamed.    Mark,  viii.  38. 

NO  CROSS,  NO  CROWN. 

See  where  the  Cross  of  duty  stands  upright. 
Above  it,  shines  the  Crown  with  radiant  light ; 
Right  in  the  narrow  way  the  Cross  it  stands. 
And  all  the  space  completely  it  commands  ; 
On  either  side  behold  !   vast  rocks  arise. 
Expand  their  width,  and  reach  the  topmost  skiea: 


V 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  203 

B'^e  numbers  there,  who  fam  the  Crown  w  u]d  have. 
But  will  not  touch  the  Cro=g,  their  souls  to  save  ; 
They  seek  some  other  way,  but  't  will  not  do, 
They  wander  on,  and  find  eternal  wo^. 

But  one  is  seen  advancing  right  ahead. 
And  like  his  Lord — the  Croas  he  will  not  dread  ; 
He  takes  it  up — 't  is  feathers — nothing  more — 
He  travels  onward  faster  than  before  ; 
He  loves  the  Cross,  nor  ever  lays  .t  down, 
'Till  he  receives  instead  the  starry  Crown. 

On  a  gently^  rising  ground,  a  Cross  of  somewhat 
1  rge  dimensions  is  seen  to  stand  erect ;  above  it, 
and  suspended  in  the  air,  a  bright  Crown  sparkles 
with  a  brilliant  light.  On  both  sides  of  the  Cross 
rocka,  vast  and  precipitous,  lift  up  their  tops  to  the 
heavens  ;  on  either  side  they  extend  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  reach.  Many  persons  are  seen  going  round 
the  base  of  the  mountain  chain  ;  their  object  appears 
to  be  to  get  the  Crown  ;  it  is  theirs,  if  they  will  but 
get  it  according  to  the  condition  proposed.  They 
have  been  trying  to  go  through  the  narrow  passage, 
but  the  wooden  cross  blocks  up  the  entrance  ;  they 
never  think  of  moving  that,  although  they  try  to 
climb  the  mountain  barrier,  which  is  much  more  dif- 
ficult. See  !  one  is  now  attempting  to  ascend,  but 
it  is  all  in  vain — there  is  no  other  way  than  through 
the  chasm.  Away  they  go,  wandering  round  and 
round  ;  some  are  seen  falling  off  a  precipice,  they 
are  dashed  to  pieces  ;  others  lose  themselves  among 
dark  labyrinths,  and  some  are  torn  to  pieces  by  wild 
beasts.  All  come  to  a  bad  end — not  one  of  them 
obtains  the  Crown. 

One,  however,  is  seen  alone,  marching  up  to  the 
terrible  Cross  ;  he  walks  with  a  firm  step.  Decision 
is  his  name  :  he  goes  right  up  to  the  Cross,  he 
quickly  throws  it  down — it  is  only  a  few  inches  in 
the  ground ;  he  takes  it  up,  its  weight  is  nothing,  for 
26 


201 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


it  is  hollow.  He  carries  it  to  the  place  appointed, 
lays  it  down,  and  receives  the  glittering  Crown,  and 
bears  it  away  in  triumph. 

By  the  Cross  here  is  signified  religious  duties ;  bj 
the  Crown — immortality  in  heaven  ;  those  who  pass 
by  the  Cross  and  wander  round  the  wall,  represent 
those  who  think  of  heaven,  but  neglect  duty  ;  the 
man  who  boldly  takes  up  the  Cross — the  faithful 
Christian.  Many  persons  think  about  heaven,  who, 
alas  !  will  never  arrive  there  ;  nay,  they  do  more, 
they  actually  set  out  for  it — perhaps  make  a  profes- 
sion of  religion  ;  they  do  not  like  the  idea  of  being 
lost ;  submit  to  a  partial  reformation,  and  make  an 
approach  toward  the  peifonnance  of  religious  duties. 
They  just  obtain  a  sight  of  them,  and  they  are  fright- 
ened ;  this  is  the  Cross.  What  is  there  in  the  Cross 
80  dreadful  ?  Let  us  see.  Of  all  who  present  them- 
selves as  candidates  for  heaven,  it  is  required  that 
they  become  poor  in  spirit — humble  as  a  little  child — 
penitent  for  sin — "  perfect  and  pure,  as  He  is  pure" 
— that  they  do  deny  self — crucify  the  flesh — mortify 
the  body — subdue  inordinate  desires — set  the  affec- 
tions on  things  above — hunger  and  thirst  after  right- 
eousness— forgive  enemies — submit  to  persecution 
for  Christ's  sake — to  exercise  a  constant  watchfulness 
over  themselves,  and  against  the  world  and  the  devil. 
The  hand,  if  it  offends,  must  be  cut  off— the  eye 
plucked  out. 

They  are  told  of  the  straight  gate — the  narrow 
way — the  yoke — the  burden — the  race — the  warfare, 
etc.  Yea,  the  whole  man  is  to  be  brought  under 
new  influences,  governed  by  new  principles,  and  to 
live  for  new  ends.  Self-denial,  self-discipline,  and 
self-conquest,  are  made  indispensable  prerequisites 
for  the  kingdom  of  Heaven.  This  is  the  Cross,  it 
stands  in  the  path  of  life  ;  to  proceed,  it  must  be  em- 


\ 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  205 

braced.  Christ  is  "  the  way''  to  God.  His  atone- 
ment, example,  doctrines,  commandments — there  ig 
no  other  way,  there  can  be  no  other — a  wall  of  ada- 
mant, wide  as  earth,  high  as  heaven,  meets  us  in  our 
attempts  to  find  one  ;  on  which  stands  inscribe-d  in 
letters  of  light,  "  He  that  entereth  not  by  the  door, 
but  climbeth  up  some  other  way,  the  same  is  a  thief 
and  a'robber." 

Religious  duties  are  irksome  and  disagreeable  to 
the  carnal  mind — to  the  unconverted  ;  it  is  their  na- 
ture to  be  so.  By  them  a  man  may  know  what  he 
is,  whether  he  is  converted  or  not  ;  the  Cross  is  a 
mirror.  Religious  duties  are  imposed,  not  that  by 
performing  them  we  may  earn  a  title  to  heaven,  but 
because  they  are  necessary  for  the  purification  of  our 
moral  natm-e,  through  the  grace  of  Christ,  that  we 
may  become  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  iLheritance 
of  the  Saints  in  light.  To  neglect  the  Cross  is  to 
neglect  all  ;  it  is  to  go  to  the  feast  without  the  wed- 
ding garment  ;  it  is  to  go  forth  to  meet  the  bride- 
groom without  light,  and  without  oil  in  our  vessels. 

We  may  substitute  something  else  for  the  Cross  ; 
such  as  morality,  philosophy,  or  even  works  of  pain- 
ful pennance.  It  will  be  all  in  vain  ;  as  long  as  we 
continue  unwashed,  unjustified,  unsanctified,  we  are 
unsafe — in  momentary  danger  of  hell  fire.  There  is 
no  neutrality  in  this  war.  In  revolutions  of  States 
and  Empires,  those  who  do  not  take  up  arms  against 
the  foe,  are  deemed  as  enemies  ;  it  is  so  here.  "  He 
that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me,  and  he  that  gath- 
ereth  not  with  me  scattereth  abroad."  This  is  the 
conclusion  of  the  whole  matter.  When  Christ  comes 
to  judge  the  world,  all  who  will  not  now  take  up  the 
Cross  will  be  regarded  as  enemies  ;  instead  of  the 
Crown  they  will  have  the  curse  ;  instead  of  Heaven, 
everlasting  fire  with  the  Devil  and  his  angels. 


J06 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEOOHIE8. 


Hence  it  is  that  so  many  "  draw  back  to  perdi- 
tion." Icrnorant  of  the  or,eat  principles  of  religion, 
of  its  power  to  save,  they  wear  it  as  a  cloak  to  hide 
the  deformity  within  ;  so  inadequate  are  their  con- 
ceptions of  its  excellency,  that  they  will  not  sacrifice 
a  single  lust,  a  momentary  gratification,  one  darling 
idol,  to  insure  the  "  eternal  weight  of  glory"  which 
it  promises. 

*  No  Cross,  no  Crown  !^^  Some  of  the  early  disci- 
pies  of  the  great  Messiah,  when  the  spiritual  nature 
of  Christianity  was  presented  to  them,  were  "  of- 
fended." Their  carnal  stomachs  loathed  "  the  bread 
which  came  down  from  heaven."  Companions  of 
the  world,  they  rejected  the  "fellowship  with  the 
Father,  and  with  the  Son,  Jesus  Christ ,"  the  Cross 
di.^pleased  them,  and  with  their  own  hands  they  in- 
scribed their  names  with  those  "  who,  having  put 
their  hanu  to  the  plough,  looked  back,  and  so  became 
unfit  for  the  kingdom  of  God." 

'*  No  Cross,  no  Crown  !"  See  !  that  young  man 
running  toward  the  great  teacher ;  what  can  he 
want  with  him  ?  He  is  a  n6ble  man,  a  ruler  of  the 
Jews.  Strange  sight,  indeed,  to  see  !  A  ruler  of 
the  Jews  running  after  the  despised  Gallilean.  What 
is  his  business  ?  He  inquires  about  the  way  to 
heaven  ;  he  seems  a  good  deal  in  earnest ;  he  runs, 
and  kneels  at  the  Saviour's  feet ;  listen  to  him.  O, 
says  he,  "  what  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal 
life  ?"  "  Take  up  the  Cross,  and  thou  ehalt  have 
treasure  in  heaven,"  said  the  Saviour,  as  he  looked 
kindly  upon  him.  The  young  man  looks  '  sad,'  he  is 
*  sad,'  and  't  is  a  '  sad'  sight  to  see.  He  wants  the 
"  treasure  in  heaven."  But  he  wont  take  up  the 
Cross,  and  they  go  together ;  God  has  joined  them, 
and  what  God  has  joined  no  man  can  put  asunder. 
He  looks  at  the  Saviour  again  inquiringly,  as  much 


\ 


RELIGIOrs    ALLEGOHIES,  207 

as  to  say,  "  Is  there  no  other  way  ?"  The  Savior 
understands  him  ;  he  px^ints  him  to  the  Cross  again, 
saying  "  Except  a  man  deny  himself,  and  tiAie  up 
his  Cross,  he  cannot  be  ray  disciple."  Fearful  cri- 
sis, what  \%-ill  he  do  ?  The  SaWour  is  looking  at  him — 
the  disciples — the  multitude  standing  around — God 
— the  holy  ang^^l^ — glorified  spirits — all  are  looking 
— yea,  hell  is  looking  on  this  spectacle.  What  is 
the  issue  ?  O,  dreadful  infatuation  ;  '  heaven  that 
hour  let  fall  a  tear.'  He  who  knew  the  command, 
ments  by  heart,  and  who  had  kept  them  from  his 
youth  up ;  he  turns  his  back  on  Christ  and  heaven, 
and  goes  away  "  sorrowful,"  to  be  yet  more  "  sorrow- 
ful" lon^  as  eternal  ao;es  roll. 

Have  the  Cross  and  have  the  Crown.  Look 
again  at  that  young  man  walking  boldly  up  to  the 
Cress  ;  he  lays  hold  of  it  exclaiminor,  "  when  I  am 
weak  then  am  I  strong  ;  I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ  strengthening  me."  He  finds  it  '  easy'  and 
'  light,'  pleasant  and  delightful  ;  he  bears  it  faithfully 
in  palaces  and  in  prisons — in  the  wilderness  and  in 
the  city — on  the  sea  and  on  the  land — among  Jew 
and  Greek — Barbarian  and  Sc}-thian — Bond  and 
Free— every  where  exclaiming  as  he  goes,  '•  God  for- 
bid that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  Cross  of  my 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,"  and  having  carried 
it  the  appointed  time  he  lays  it  at  the  Saviour's  feet, 
singing  triumphantly : 

"  I  have  fought  a  good  fight ; 

"  I  have  finished  my  course  ; 

"  I  have  kept  the  faith  : 

**  Henceforth  there  is  laid  uo 

•*  For  me — A  Ckown  of  Ri*.  hteocswiss.* 


208 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


They  cry  unto  th£  Lord  in  their  trouble,  and  he  hringeth  them  out  of  their 
distresses.— Fa.  cviL  28.  Then  the  waters  had  overwhelmed  ua.— Pa 
cxxiv.  4. 

THE  LIFE-BOAT. 

Loud  yell  the  winds  escaped  from  caves  beneath. 

And  summon  Ocean  to  the  Feast  of  Death  j 

Ocean  obeys,  high  lifts  his  hoary  head, 

With  fearful  roa? ,  impatient  to  be  fed  ; 

With  maddened  rage  his  mountain  billows  rise. 

And  shake  the  earth  and  threaten  e'en  the  skies. 

See  the  poor  bark  engulphed — with  precious  freight 

Who,  who  can  save  her  from  impending  fate  ? 


RELIGI0U3    ALLEGORIES.  209 

Old  Ocean  strikes  her  with  tremendous  shock. 
And,  oh  I  she's  stranded  on  a  sunken  rock  : 
Horror  and  grief  how  seize  the  hapless  crew. 
To  hope  and  life  they  bid  a  last  adieu : 
Thousands  on  shore  behold  their  awful  plight. 
But  cannot  save  them  ;  't  is  a  piteous  sight. 

At  this  dread  crisis,  on  the  mountain  wave 
Is  seen  the  "  Life-boat,"  with  intent  to  save  ; 
Onward  she  dashes  o'er  that  sea  of  strife, 
Buoyant,  and  hopeful,  't  is  a  thing  of  life. 
She  makes  the  v/reck,  and  from  its  drifting  spars, 
She  takes  on  board  the  drifting  mariners  ; 
Trip  after  trip  she  makes — with  mercy  fraught — 
'Till  they  are  safely  carried  into  port. 

Here  i^  portrayed  the  life-boat  hastening  to  the 
rescue  ;  the  winds,  escaped  from  their  prison-house, 
issue  forth  roaring  indignantly  at  having  been  con- 
fined so  long.  Ocean  is  summoned  to  the  feast  of 
Death  ;  Neptune  obeys  the  summons — instantly  he 
is  all  commotion,  stirred  up  from  his  lowest  depths, 
impatient  to  satiate  his  devouring  appetite  ;  he  dashes 
his  billows  against  the  earth — he  assails  the  very 
heavens.  Behold  the  frail  ship  exposed  to  all  the 
fury  of  his  rage  ;  she  is  laden  with  precious  treasure. 
Her  ruin  appears  incA-itable.  Loud  roars  Neptune  ; 
loud  roar  the  winds ;  loud  too,  snap  and  crack  the 
cordage  and  the  sails  :  high  rises  the  mountain  surf. 
The  bark  "  mounts  up  to  the  heaven,"  deep  yawns 
the  gulph  beneath ;  she  goes  down  again  into  the 
depths  ;  the  crew  are  "  at  their  wits  end,"  their  soul 
is  melted  because  of  trouble.  But  instead  of  calling 
"  upon  the  Lord  in  their  trouble,"  that  lie  might 
*•  bring  them  out  of  their  distresses,"  they  drink 
and  are  drunken.  Still  the  waves  and  the  billows  go 
over  them  ;  at  length  a  mountain  wave  dashes  the 
vessel  on  a  sunken  rock,  she  falls  to  pieces  ;  the  men 
cling  to  masts,  spars,  and  broken  pieces;  despair  sits 
on  every  countenance  ;    multitudes  from  the  shore 


210  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

behold  the  catastrophe,  but  cannot  succor.  Lament- 
able sight ! 

At  this  appalling'moment,  when  all  hope  is  taken 
away  of  their  being  saved,  the  Life-boat  is  launched 
into  the  terrific  ocean.  Will  not  she  also  fall  a  prey 
to  the  watery  monster  ?  See  !  she  lives  above  the 
wave,**  ;  her  gallant  crew  impel  her  forward  ;  on  she 
dashes — she  leaps  from  billow  to  billow  ;  soon  she 
reaches  the  wreck,  and  begins  her  work  of  mercy. 
Quickly  she  takes  the  drowning  wretches  from  the 
drifting  spars,  giving  back  to  them  life  and  hope. 
Some,  indeed,  not  yet  sobered,  will  not  be  saved  ; 
others  in  the  same  condition  take  the  "  life-preserv- 
ers"  for  pirates,  that  have  come  to  take  and  sell  them 
for  slaves,  therefore  refuse  to  leave  the  raft.  No  time 
is  to  be  lost.  All  they  can,  they  receive  on  board, 
and  carry  safely  into  port,  amid  the  acclamations  of 
the  multitude. 

O  what  is  this  but  a  picture  of  the  goodness  of 
our  God  in  Christ,  in  establishing  his  Church  on  the 
earth.  The  tempestuous  sea  is  this  world,  the  wreck 
is  man  ;  the  life-boat  is  the  Church,  and  the  multi- 
tudes on  shore  may  represent  the  heavenly  host  who 
look  with  interest  into  the  affairs  of  man's  redemp- 
tion. 

The  world  is  indeed  a  "  troubled  sea,"  a  tempest- 
uous ocean  ;  it  is  raised  into  fury  by  the  breath  or 
spirit  of  the  "evil  one,"  "the  prince  of  the  Power 
of  the  air,"  who,  having  escaped  from  his  prison- 
house,  the  "  bottomless  pit,"  descends  in  great  wrath 
and  summons  all  the  powers  of  evil  to  aid  him  in  the 
destruction  of  mankind.  Here  roll  the  waves  of 
profanity — there  those  of  impurity ;  here  dash  with 
fury  the  breakers  of  Revenge — there  rise  impetuous 
the  mouutairj  billows  of  Pride  ;  on  the  right  are  seen 
the  rocks  of  Infidelity — on  the  left  the  quicksands  of 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOEIES. 


tu 


Destruction,  while  the  \A'hirlpools  of  Mammon  abound 
in  every  part. 

Man,  shipwrecked  by  the  first  transgression,  is  cast 
upon  this  troubled  sea,  exposed  to  all  its  dangers  ; 
ignorant  and  helpless,  he  is  "  tossed  upon  life's 
stormy  billows."  Wave  after  wave  rolls  him  on- 
ward to  destruction  ;  the  whirlpool  opens  wide  its 
mouth  to  "  swallow  him  whole,  as  those  that  go  down 
into  the  pit."  Is  all  lost  ?  must  he  become  a  prey  to 
the  devouring  elements  ?  Ah !  is  there  no  eye  to 
pity  ?  no  arm  to  save  ?  Oh,  divine  compassion  ! 
"  God  so  loved  the  world,"  that  the  Life-boat  is 
launched  ;  Jesus  is  in  the  midst  of  her  ;  he  guides  her 
movements  !  his  disciples  form  the  crew  ;  they  en- 
counter the  storm  that  Satan  has  raised  ;  they  spring 
from  wave  to  wave,  from  billow  to  billow, 

"  With  cries,  entreaties,  tears,  to  save, 
And  snatch  them  from  the  gaping  grave." 

They  take  sinners  from  off  the  waves  that  are  bear- 
ing them  on  to  death,  and  place  their  feet  upon  the 
Rock  of  Salvation.  Some  are  too  proud  to  accept 
deliverance ;  such  are  left  in  their  sad  condition. 

To  speak  without  a  figure,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
has  established  his  church  upon  the  earth,  for  the 
salvation  of  men.  This  is  the  proper  business  of 
the  Church,  even  as  of  the  life-boat,  to  save  men  ; 
its  sacraments,  ordinances,  and  various  means  of 
grace,  all  leading  to  Christ,  the  Saviour,  are  well 
adapted  to  do  this  ;  and  when  used  aright,  they  never 
fail  to  ensure  salvation.  Believe,  love,  obey,  "  this 
do  and  you  shall  live." 

And  whereas  the  usefiilness  of  the  "  Life-hoaV* 
consisted  in  having  her  bottom  and  sides  hollow  and 
filled  with  air,  so  the  usefulness  of  the  Church  de- 
pends upon  her  being  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit, 


213  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

vvilli  tne  atmosphere  of  heaven;  and  as  boats  not 
made  air-tight  fail  to  be  useful  in  the  storm,  and 
prove  the  destnjction  of  those  who  venture  in  them, 
in  like  manner,  Churches  lacking  the  atmosphere 
of  heaven,  being  destitute  of  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  fail  in  being  serviceable  to  the  souls 
of  men,  and  sink  into  the  "  dead  sea"  of  forms  and 
ceremonies. 

The  Church  of  Christ — that  is,  a  company  of  tm'e 
believers — being  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  become 
inflamed  with  zeal,  and  animated  with  love  for  per- 
ishing sinners.  The  love  of  Christ  constraineth 
them,  for  they  thus  judge  :  if  Christ  died  for  all, 
then  were  all  dead — and  that  he  died  for  all,  that  they 
which  live  should  not  henceforth  live  unto  themselves, 
but  unto  him  that  died  for  them  and  rose  again.  In 
seeking  to  save  souls,  they  seek  Christ's  honor  and 
glory,  by  establishing  his  dominion  on  the  earth  ; 
daily  the  Church  influenced  thus,  makes  efforts  for 
the  salvation  of  men  ;  her  grand  effort  is  on  the  Sab- 
bath-day. On  this  day,  worldly  business  is  laid 
aside  ;  the  Angel  of  Mercy  rings  her  bell  around 
the  earth  ;  the  Ambassadors  of  Heaven  appear,  and 
issue  their  proclamation  unto  the  children  of  men  ; 
life  and  immortality  are  offered  without  money  and 
without  price  ;  Mercy  is  active  on  the  earth.  Foun- 
tains of  living  waters  are  opened  in  dry  places  ; 
heaven's  gates  are  thrown  wide  open,  and  streams 
of  light  and  love  issue  from  the  King  of  Glory. 
Every  where  sinners,  perishing  sinners,  are  affec- 
tionately invited  to  escape  from  their  sins,  and  take 
refuge  beneath  the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  Holy  ; — 
"  Wisdom"  herself  "uttereth  her  voice  in  the  streets, 
she  crieth  in  the  chief  place  of  concourse,  in  the 
opening  of  the  gates  ;  in  the  city  she  uttereth  her 
words,  saying,  how  long,  ye  simple  ones,  will  ye  love 


! 


EELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


213 


gimplicit}-,  and  the  pcorners  delight  in  their  scorning, 
and  fools  hate  knowledge."     Nevertheless 

"  Millions  are  shipwrecked  on  life's  stormy  coast, 
"  With  all  their  charts  on  board,  and  powerful  aid 
"  Because  their  lofty  pride  disdained  to  learn 
"  The  instructions  of  a  pilot,  and  a  God." 

A.S  we  saw  in  the  case  of  the  wTeck,  that  some 
actually  refused  to  enter  the  life-boat,  so  it  is  with 
sinners  :  alas  !  alas  !  that  it  is  so  ;  they,  too,  are  in- 
toxicated,  "drunken,  but  not  with  wine,"  sin  has  in- 
toxicated them  ;  they  are  beside  themselves.  Some 
will  not  yield  their  heart  to  God,  and  be  saved,  sim- 
ply because  they  v:ill  not:  others  do  not  believe  the 
record  God  has  given  of  his  Son,  and  continue  ex- 
posed to  the  damnation  of  those  "that  believe  not." 
Others  again,  mistrust  the  motives  of  the  pious,  who 
seek  to  lead  them  from  ^he  way  of  death,  and  think 
they  want  only  to  bring  them  into  bondage  ;  and  as 
4he  mariners  had  power' to  remain  on  the  wreck  and 
be  drowned,  so  the  sinner  has  power  to  continue  in 
his  sins  and  be  damned.  Awful  power  !  fearful  re- 
sponsibility! and  yet  if  man  be  not  free,  "  how  shall 
God  judge  the  world." 

The  Church,  however,  as  a  Spiritual  Life-boat, 
continues  her  benevolent  excursions,  and  daily  lands 
some  saved  ones,  at  the  port  of  gloiT  ;  and  when  she 
shall  have  made  her  last  trip,  through  that  tempest 
that  shall  make  a  wreck  of  earth,  then  shall  arise 
from  countless  myriads  the  song  of  triumph  and  of 
praise  ; — 

"  Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power, 
"  Be  unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne, 
"  And  unto  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever." 


214 


RELIGI0U8    ALLEGOHIES. 


0?E[]iE- 


For  the  wisdom  of  this  world  isfoolishttess  tchh.  God. — Cor.  1,  iii.  19. 
they  have  called  the  Master  of  the  house  Beelzebub,  how  much  more 
they  call  them  of  his  household  f    Matt.  x.  25. 

OBEDIENCE  AND  WISDOM. 

Here  is  Self- Will,  so  called  by  men  below, 
Struggling  alone  his  upward  path  to  go  ; 
Though  steep  and  rugged  he  will  persevere  ; 
The  way  he  knows  is  right,  then  wherefore  fear? 
His  friends  and  foes  alike  pronounce  him  mad  ; 
His/r/>nrf*  are  sorrj'.but  \v\s  foes  are  glad  ; 


'      RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  215 

One  pulls  ciim  by  the  skirt  to  keep  him  back, 
Another  runs  before  to  cross  his  track  ; 
One  with  a  club  resolves  to  stop  his  course. 
And  right  or  wrong,  to  bring  him  back  by  force ; 
But  they  are  wrong,  and  wrong  the  title  given. 
Self-will  on  earth — Obedience  is  in  heaven. 

Next  Folly — nicknamed — here  is  seen  to  rise 
And  climb  the  path  that  leads  to  yonder  skies; 
Honors  and  shining  gold  his  pathway  cross. 
Yet  he  esteems  them  but  as  dung  and  dross  ; 
Old  fashioned  things  prefers,  o'ergrown  with  rust. 
And  stars  and  garters  tramples  in  the  dust. 
Judging  the  man  by  earth's  acknowledged  rule. 
The  lookers  on  denounce  him  for  a  fool ; 
The  world  is  wrong  again,  the  m.an  is  right; 
His  name  is  Wisdom  in  the  realms  of  light. 

In  this  picture,  on  the  one  hand,  is  seen  a  man 
urging  his  way  up  a  steep  and  rugged  path  ;  his 
name  is  recorded.  He  is  opposed,  still  he  doggedly 
persev^eres  ;  friends  and  foes  alike  are  astonished  at 
his  proceedings.  The  former  are  grieved,  the  latter 
rejoice  at  the  prospect  of  his  certain  ruin.  Some  of 
his  friends  are  determined  to  arrest  his  progress  ;  one 
seizes  hold  of  him  by  the  skirt,  another,  more  intent, 
tries  to  get  ahead  of  him  in  order  to  stop  him  ;  a 
third,  yet  more  violent,  pursues  him  with  a  bludgeon, 
and  is  determined,  if  fair  means  fail,  to  employ  force. 
Nevertheless,  he  obstinately  persists  in  the  path  he 
has  chosen  ;  he  believes  it  to  be  right;  he  will  not 
give  in.  They  employ  threats  and  promises,  but  all 
to  no  purpose  ;  out  of  all  patience  with  him,  they 
use  up  a  whole  vocabulary  of  opprobrious  epithets. 
He  is  self-willed,  obstinate,  stubborn,  etc.  ;  one  by 
one,  however,  at  length  they  leave  him,  and  go  about 
their  business,  and  the  man,  no  longer  molested,  goes 
along  the  way  which  to  him  appears  to  be  right,  and 
which  he  is  determined  to  follow. 

On  the  other  hand,  one  is  seen  pressing  forward 


216  RDUOIOUS    ALLUOORIE^ 

up  a  rough  and  difficult  pass  ;  his  name,  also,  is  ap. 
parent.  On  his  path  lie  scattered  profusely.  Riches 
and  Honors,  of  various  kinds  ;  there  is  the  tnjmpet 
of  Fame,  with  Stars  and  Garters,  and  many  other 
things  of  equal  value  ;  these  appear  to  be  at  his 
command — he  may  ride  in  a  coach  drawn  by  six 
beautiful  horses,  and  yet  he  prefers  to  'oil  and  tug 
along  that  rough  road  on  foot.  This  strange  conduct 
excites  the  scorn,  ridicule,  and  laughter  of  those  who 
behold  him  ;  they  denounce  him  as  a  fool — they  know 
that  they  would  act  very  differently,  and  they  are 
wise  men.  The  man,  however,  regardless  alike  of 
their  scorn  and  jests,  goes  his  own  way  ;  and  after  a 
while,  they  go  theirs. 

The  traveler  here  called  Self-will,  represents  the 
Christian,  or  man  of  Piety,  in  every  age  ;  the  steep 
and  rugged  way,  Christian  conduct ;  the  traveler's 
opponents,  the  Christian's  adversaiies,  or  men  of 
the  world.  The  Christian  is  one  who  is  anointed 
with  the  Spirit  of  Christ ;  he  receives  a  heavenly 
call ;  he  is  not  disobedient  thereto  ;  he  knows  in 
whom  and  in  w^hat  he  believes.  The  path  he  is 
commanded  to  follow  may  be  a  difficult  one,  very  dif- 
ficult to  flesh  and  blood  ;  it  is  a  new  and  a  strange 
way ;  it  is  so  to  himself  in  many  respects,  but  God 
has  called  him  to  walk  in  it — he  will  obey.  He  walks 
by  faith,  not  by  sight,  merely.  His  friends  become 
alarmed  at  his  conduct,  and  at  first  approach  him 
with  tenderness,  beseeching  him  to  give  up  his  new 
fangled  notions  ;  though  he  loves  them  sincerely,  he 
cannot,  he  dare  not  yield  to  their  solicitations.  They 
remonstrate,  they  threaten,  but  all  in  vain  ;  he  is  de 
termined,  nothing  will  move  him  ;  he  even  invites 
them  to  go  with  him  ;  nothing  would  give  him  greate 
satisfaction  than  to  have  them  for  companions  ;  they 
will  not  be  persuaded,  and  mourning  over  what  they 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  217 

consider  his  self-will  and  stubbornness,  permit  him, 
at  length,  to  have  his  own  way. 

Others  of  a  more  hostile  character,  but  equally 
blind,  who  know  nothing  of  the  Christian's  motives 
and  aims,  who  put  darkness  for  light,  and  light  for 
darkness,  call  sweet  bitter  and  bitter  sweet,  beset  the 
man  with  foul  and  abusive  language.  They  revile 
and  slander  him,  they  maltreat  and  persecute  him ; 
they  believe  him  to  he  an  obstiiiate,  stupid  fellow — 
one  who  will  have  his  own  way  at  all  hazards. 

The  man  of  God  endures  ail  things,  and  hopes  all 
things  ;  he  prays  for  those  who  oppose  him  ;  he  gives 
them  good  advice,  and  tells  them  "  As  for  me  and 
my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord."  But  God  sees 
not  as  man  sees  ;  Heaven  approves  of  his  conduct ; 
hallelujahs  resounded  above  when  first  he  started  on 
the  way  ;  new  shouts  of  angelic  applause  mi^ht  have 
been  heard,  when  he  persisted  to  walk  in  it.  God 
has  enrolled  his  name  among  his  obedient  ones,  and 
when  earth's  records,  doings,  and  opinions,  shall  be 
no  more,  he  will  receive  amid  ten  thousand  thousand 
witnesses,  the  welcome  plaudit  of  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  sen'ant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord." 

A  wonderful  example  of  what  the  world  calls  self, 
will,  lived  many  years  since.  An  old  man  who 
knew  nothing  about  the  business,  look  it  into  his 
head  to  turn  shipwright  and  build  a  ship.  Such  a 
thing  had  never  been  heard  of;  of  such  enormous  di- 
mensions,  too,  that  it  was  very  clear  there  could  not 
be  water  enough  to  float  it ;  and  a  thousand  idle  things 
were  said  about  the  old  man  and  his  wild  and  willful 
imdcrtaking.  Yet  he  was  self-willed  ;  day  after  day 
found  him  at  his  work — he  knew  what  he  was  about — 
he  knew  who  had  commanded  him  ;  he  doubted  not 
but  that  there  would   be   water  enough  to  float  his 


218  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

ship  by  and  by,  nor  was  he  mistaken.  His  obedience 
had  it's  full  reward,  and  the  lone  Ark,  floating  majes- 
tically on  the  world  of  waters,  testified  that  it  is  better 
to  obey  God  than  man. 

The  man  Folly,  his  path,  and  the  treatment  he 
meets  with,  serve  also  to  illustrate  Christian  charac- 
ter. The  Christian  is  called  to  forsake  home  and 
friends,  houses  and  lands,  riches  and  honors,  when, 
ever  they  in  any  measure  stand  in  the  way  of  duty. 
The  heavenly  commission  he  has  received  makes  it 
incumbent  on  him  to  deny  self,  take  up  his  cross,  to 
bear  the  yoke,  and  to  become  a  pilgrim  in  the  w^orld. 
He  is  faithful  to  his  calling.  Pleasure  courts  him, 
but  he  embraces  her  not.  Wealth  entices,  but  he 
consents  not.  Honors  and  glories  solicit  him,  but  all 
in  vain.  He  rejects  them  all.  He  will  not  have  a 
clog  to  his  soul.  He  is  free,  and  he  knows  the  value 
of  his  freedom.  The  poor  slaves  of  sin  and  earth 
know  no  more  of  the  man  and  his  pursuits,  than  of 
the  angel  Gabriel  and  his  employments  in  paradise. 
To  them,  this  spurner  of  gold,  this  rejector  of  honors, 
this  trampler  on  earth,  is  a  fool  and  a  madman  ;  he  is 
beside  himself,  and  so  he  is  denounced  accordingly. 
They  judge  of  him  and  his  conduct  by  the  rules  of 
earth,  but  he  follows  another  standard.  As  well  might 
the  oyster  buried  in  the  sand  attempt  to  pass  judgment 
on  the  towering  eagle  when  he  flies  on  the  wings  of 
the  storm,  mounts  and  mingles  with  the  new  bom 
light,  and  rejoices  in  the  boundlessness  of  space. 

The  Christian  rejects  what  he  knows  upon  the  au. 
Ihority  of  Truth,  and  the  God  of  Truth  to  be  worth- 
less in  themselves,  unsatisfactory  in  their  nature,  and 
transitory  in  their  continuance.  He  receives  and 
holds  fast  what  is  invaluable,  satisfying,  and  eternal. 
And  when  the  light  of  the  last  conflagi-ation  shall 
reveal  the  secrets  of  all  hearts,  and  declare  the  value 


KELIOIOUS   ALLBOORIEEU  219 

of  all  things,  then  will  it  be  seen  that  the  Christian 
has  governed  himself  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
highest  Wisdom. 

Thus  it  was  with  the  man  of  meekness ;  he  gave  up  king- 
ship and  royalty,  and  formed  an  alliance  with  a  troop  of 
slaves  ;  he  relinquished  the  splendors  of  a  court  for  the  terrors 
of  a  desert ;  a  life  of  luxurious  ease  for  one  of  peril  and  fa- 
tigue. By  the  men  of  his  generation  his  conduct  was  regarded 
as  foolish  and  absurd,  but  his  appearance  on  the  glorious  mount 
of  transfiguration,  as  an  Ambassador  of  the  Bkies,  encircled 
with  the  splendors  of  Heaven,  proclaims  to  the  world  that  "  the 
fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  Wisdom,"  and  the  love  of 
him  its  highest  consummation. 

Look  again  at  the  young  man  of  Tarsus  ;  see  him  resign  the 
professor's  chair  to  become  a  teacher  of  barbarians.  The  ruler 
of  the  Jews  becomes  the  servant  of  the  Gentiles  ;  the  friend 
of  the  great  and  powerful  becomes  the  companion  of  the  weak 
and  contemptible  ;  the  inmate  of  a  mansion  becomes  a  vaga- 
bond on  the  earth,  "  having  no  certain  dwelling  place."  He 
embraces  hunger,  thirst,  and  nakedness  ;  the  dungeon,  the 
scourge,  and  the  axe.  The  world  has  pronounced  its  verdict 
upon  him — he  was  a  "  madman,"  "  a  pest,"  "  a  disturber  of  the 
public  peace,"  "  a  ringleader  of  the  despised."  The  case,  how- 
ever, is  pending  in  a  higher  court,  and  when  those  who  "  sleep 
in  the  dust  of  the  earth  shall  awake,"  and  Paul,  "  shining  as 
the  brightness  of  the  firmament,"  takes  rank  among  the 
" wise"  the  verdict  of  Heaven  will  have  been  recorded. 

"  Wisdom  is  humble,  said  the  voice  of  God, 
'T  is  proud,  the  world  replied.     Wisdom,  said  God, 
Forgives,  forbears,  and  suffers,  not  for  fear 
Of  man,  but  God.     Wisdom  revenges,  said 
The  world  ;  is  quick  and  deadly  of  resentment ; 
Thrusts  at  the  very  shadow  of  affront. 
And  hastes  by  Death  to  wipe  its  honor  clean. 
Wisdom,  said  God,  is  highest  when  it  stoops 
Lowest  before  the  Holy  Throoie  ;  throws  down 
Its  crown,  abased  ;  forgets  itself,  admires. 
And  breathes  adoring  praise." 

28 


220 


i?Fi.'f:»oTsi   ALrrooRiEfi 


If  Mtnncrs  entice  thee,  consent  thou  vot. — Prov.  i.  10.    Lean  not  unto  thimt 
own  understanding.    Prov.  uL  5. 

DANGER  OF  PRESUMPTION, 

Behold  where  Winter  on  his  stormy  throne, 
With  icy  scepter  sways  the  world  alone  ; 
From  arctic  regions  fierce  the  whirlwinds  blow. 
And  earth,  all  shivering,  wears  her  robe  of  snow; 
The  leafless  forest  murmurs  to  the  blast. 
The  ruehine  river  now  is  fettered  fttet ; 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  221 

And  clouds  and  shadows  settling  over  all. 
Wrap  lifeless  nature  in  her  funeral  pall. 
'  Some  youths  now  hasten  to  the  frozen  lake 
And  on  to  school  their  way  with  pleasure  take ; 
Nor  go  alone,  but  others  they  entice 
With  them  to  frolic  on  the  slippery  ice  ; 
The  way  is  pleasant,  smoother  far  to  go, 
Than  o'er  the  mcnintain  through  the  drifted  snow  : 
One,  and  one  only,  makes  a  wiser  choice  ; 
He  will  not  hearken  unto  Pleasure's  voice  : 
Awhile  the  others  glide  along  the  lake, 
When  all  at  once  the  ice  begins  to  break ; 
In — in  they  plunge  I     In  vain  their  piteous  tones — 
The  waters  quickly  hush  their  gurgling  groans. 

Here  we  see  the  danger  of  presumption — the 
fruits  of  disobedience.  It  was  a  winter's  day,  the 
snow  had  fallen,  and  earth  was  clad  in  her  robes  of 
white  ;  the  north  wind  had  moaned  through  the  for- 
est, and  the  ponds  and  rivers  were  partially  frozen 
over.  Some  village  school  boys,  about  to  start  for 
the  school-house,  which  was  situated  at  some  dis- 
tance on  the  other  side  of  a  mountain,  were  admon- 
ished by  their  parents  not  to  go  by  the  way  of  the 
lake  that  lay  round  the  foot  of  the  mount  ;  the  parents 
judging  it  to  be  unsafe,  the  command  was  given  with 
all  possible  earnestness  and  tenderness.  Well  would 
it  have  been  for  the  boys  had  they  obeyed  ;  as  soon 
as  they  were  out  of  sight,  Harry  whispered  to  Charles 
that  "  it  would  be  much  more  pleasant  to  go  by  the 
way  of  the  lake,  than  to  trudge  it  over  the  mountain, 
and  nobody  could  know  any  thing  about  it."  After 
a  few  moments  pause  Charles  agreed  ;  others  now 
are  invited  to  accompany  them — •'  the  more  the  mer- 
rier" say  they  ;  one  by  one  they  give  their  assent, 
and  all,  except  Samuel,  who  forgot  not  his  parents' 
injunction,  and  who  preferred  trudging  through  the 
drifts  of  snow  over  the  mountain,  to  disobeying  hia 
parents'  command — all  resolve  to  take  the  smoother 


222  RELIGIOUS   ALLEGORIES. 

and  pleasanter  way  across  the  lake.  They  doubl 
not  but  it  will  bear ;  they  anticipate  a  fine  time  ; 
they  hesitate  not  to  trust  the  ice,  though  they  will 
not  trust  the  word  of  their  parents.  On  they  ven- 
ture— away  they  glide  o'er  the  slippery  surface,  with 
the  wind  behind  them — full  of  delight  they  slide 
along ;  they  see  Samuel  working  his  way  through 
the  snow  ;  full  of  fun  and  laughter,  they  with  diffi- 
culty stop  to  ridicule  him,  when  behold !  their  entire 
weight  is  more  than  the  ice  will  bear ;  suddenly  it 
breaks— ^in,  in  they  go,  down  !  down  !  they  sink  ; — 
the  cold  waters  close  over  them — they  are  lost. 
The  school-bell  rings,  but  they  are  not  there  ;  one 
only  of  the  party  has  arrived  to  tell  to  the  teacher 
and  the  rest  of  the  scholars,  the  dismal  tale. 

From  the  commonest  events  in  life  we  may  gather 
instruction  ;  the  bee  disdains  not  to  gather  honey 
from  the  meanest  flower.  The  Almighty  is  the  great 
Parent  of  all,  the  Father  of  the  Spirits  of  all  that 
live  ;  He  has  not  forgotten  the  work  of  his  own 
hands,  he  takes  pleasure  in  the  security  and  happi- 
nesa  of  his  children  ;  he  governs  the  world  by  laws, 
— fixed,  unalterable  law^s — except  when  he  alters 
them  for  some  especial  purpose,  as  in  the  case  of 
miracles.  His  natural  laws  prevail  in  the  heavens 
above,  in  the  earth  beneath,  and  in  the  waters  under 
the  earth ;  the  law  of  gravitation,  by  which  a  body 
unsupported  falls,  exists  every  where,  extends  to  the 
remotest  star  or  planet,  and  binds  all  material  objects 
to  a  common  center  ;  the  law  of  motion,  by  which  a 
body  once  put  in  motion  continues  in  that  state,  if  it 
be  not  resisted  by  the  action  of  an  external  cause— 
these  laws  and  others  govern  the  universe  of  matter, 
and  they  are  uniform.  Fire  always  burns,  water  al- 
ways drowns,  and  ice  supports  bodies  in  exact  pro- 
portion to  its  cpjality  and  thickness. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  223 

But  for  Spirits,  God  has  given  laws  that  are  spir- 
itual ;  in  wisdom  he  has  given  them  to  his  crea- 
tures ;  these,  too,  are  all  fixed  and  unalterable, 
"Except  ye  repent  ye  shall  perish."  The  way 
of  sin  always  leads  to  disgrace,  sorroAv,  and  eternal 
death  ;  the  path  of  duty  or  piety  always  to  honor, 
happiness,  and  everlasting  life  ;  they  have  always 
done  so,  they  ever  will  do  so  ;  God  has  admonished 
the  children  of  men  of  this  tmth ;  he  has  plainly 
pointed  out  the  two  paths,  their  character,  tendency, 
and  end  ;  and  having  done  this,  he  in  the  most  af- 
fectionate manner  urges  us  to  follow  the  path  of  life. 
"Behold!"  says  He,  and  wonder  at  the  announce- 
ment, "  I  set  before  you  Life  and  Death,  Blessing 
and  Cursing,  choose  Life  that  you  may  live." 

"  Placed  for  his  trial  on  this  bustling  stage, 
From  thoughtless  youth  to  ruminating  age, 
Free  in  his  will  to  choose  or  to  refuse, 
Man  may  improve  the  crisis,  or  abuse  ; 
Else,  on  the  fatalist's  unrighteous  plan. 
Say  to  what  bar  amenable  were  man  ? 
With  nought  in  charge  he  could  betray  no  trust ; 
And  if  he  fell,  would  fall  because  he  must. 
If  Love  reward  him,  or  if  Vengeance  strike, 
His  recompense  in  both  unjust  alike. 
Divine  authority  within  his  breast 
Brings  every  thought,  word,  action,  to  the  test ; 
Warns  him  or  prompts,  approves  him,  or  restrains. 
As  reason,  or  as  passion,  takes  the  reins  ; 
Heaven  from  above,  and  conscience  from  within. 
Cries  in  his  startled  ear — abstain  from  sin 
The  world  around  solicits  his  desire. 
And  kindles  in  his  soul  a  treacherous  fire  ; 
While  all  his  purposes  and  steps  to  guard. 
Peace  follows  virtue  as  its  sure  reward  ; 
And  Pleasure  brings  as  surely  in  her  train 
Remorse,  and  sorrow,  and  vindictive  pain." 

The  boys  who  broke  through  the  ice  and  perished, 
had  been  faithfiilly  warned  ;  the  two  ways  had  been 


224  RELioioua  allegories. 

distinctly  marked  out  to  them,  they  followed  their  own 
course  ;  they  presumed  their  parents  might  not  know 
every  thing,  they  might  not  know  how  hard  it  had 
frozen  during  the  night — that  the  ice  was  strong 
enough  to  bear  them — there  wae  no  danger.  The 
fact  was,  the  way  of  duty  looked  difficult,  and  the 
way  forbidden  easy  and  delightful ;  they  had  their 
reward.  So  it  is  with  the  sinner,  man  ;  he  'presumes 
that  he  may  violate  the  laws  of  God  with  impunity, 
that  he  M'ill  not  punish,  that  the  way  is  a  safe  one — 
'although  God  has  said  "the  end  thereof  is  death." 
The  truth  is,  the  way  of  piety  seems  hard,  steep  and 
difficult,  and  the  way  of  sin  smooth  and  agreeable  to 
his  carnal  nature  ;  hence  he  ventures  on,  at  first  with 
diffidence,  afterward  with  vain  confidence  ;  he  entices 
others  to  accompany  him  in  his  sinful  pleasures — 
this  makes  it  more  dangerous  ;  they  strengthen  each 
other  in  wickedness,  but  "  though  hand  join  in  hand, 
the  wicked  shall  not  go  unpunished." 

To  show  the  influence  of  bad  example,  and  the 
danger  of  presumption,  Baxter  has  related  the  fol- 
lowing anecdote  :  "  A  man  was  driving  a  flock  of 
fat  lambs,  and  something  meeting  them  and  hinder- 
ing their  passage,  one  of  the  lambs  leaped  upon  the 
wall  of  the  bridge,  and  his  legs  slipping  from  under 
him,  he  fell  into  the  stream  ;  the  rest  seeing  him,  did 
as  he  did,  one  after  one  leaped  over  the  bridge  into 
the  stream,  and  were  all,  or  almost  all,  drowned 
Those  that  were  behind  did  little  know  what  was  bo- 
come  of  them  that  were  gone  before,  but  thought 
they  might  venture  to  follow  their  companions  ;  but 
as  soon  as  ever  they  were  over  the  wall  and  falling 
headlong,  the  case  was  altered.  Even  so  it  is  with 
unconverted  carnal  men  ;  one  dieth  by  them  and 
drops  into  hell,  and  another  follows  the  same  way  ; 
and  yet  they  will  go  after  them-  because  they  think 


RKLIGIOrS    ALLEGORIES.  225 

not  where  they  are  gone.  0,  but  when  death  hath 
once  opened  their  eyes,  and  they  see  what  is  on  the 
other  side  of  the  wall,  even  in  another  world,  then 
what  would  they  give  to  be  where  they  once  were." 

Last  summer  I  noticed  a  little  incident  that  may  serve  to  il- 
lustrate our  subject  ;  the  same  thing,  no  doubt,  is  of  frequent 
occurrence.  An  insect  had  entered  the  house  and  was  upon 
the  back  of  a  chair ;  ha\'ing  walked  to  the  end,  it  very  circum- 
epectly  employed  its  feelers  above,  below,  and  all  around. 
Ascertaining  that  the  side  was  slippery  and  precipitous,  it 
turned  round  and  went  back  again  ;  this  it  did  several  times, 
nor  would  it  leave  its  position  until  it  could  do  so  with  safety. 
And  yet  man — man,  with  the  powers  almost  of  an  angel,  rushes 
blindly  on  to  ruin. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  elephant,  when  about  to  cross  a 
bridge,  puts  his  foot  down  inquiringly  to  ascertain  its  strength, 
nor  will  he  proceed  unless  he  is  satisfied  the  bridge  is  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  support  him  ;  but  the  transgressor  ventures  on 
the  bridge  of  sin,  beneath  which  rolls  the  river  of  eternal  woe, 
bearing  with  him  the  weight  of  his  immortal  interests,  thfi 
"  vast  concerns  of  an  eternal  state." 

By  the  laws  of  motion,  the  boy  sliding  or  skating  on  the 
ice  cannot  easily  stop  himself,  and  sometimes  he  rushes  into 
the  openings  or  air-holes,  that  are  often  found  on  the  surface, 
and  meets  with  an  untimely  end. 

It  is  so  with  the  laws  of  sin  ;  the  sinner  increases  his  mo- 
mentum as  he  advances  ;  from  hearkening  to  the  counsel  of 
the  "  ungodly,"  he  proceeds  to  the  way  of  open  "  sinners," — a 
little  further  and  he  gits  complacently  in  the  seat  of  the  "  scorn- 
ful."    Now  his  doom  is  sealed  ! 

Thus  it  was  with  Babylon's  proud  king  ;  not  content  with 
having  been  an  idolater  all  his  life,  against  liis  better  knowl- 
edge— for  the  judgment  that  befel  his  forefather,  Nebuchadnez- 
zar, must  have  instructed  him — he  would  ridicule  the  true  re- 
ligion, he  would  insult  the  majesty  of  Heaven.  He  sends  for 
the  sacred  vessels  of  the  Sanctuary,  that  he  and  his  compan- 
ions may  magnify  themselves  over  the  captive  tribes  of  Isiael. 
But  behold  !  in  the  midst  of  his  blasphemous  revelry,  the 
Hand — the  terrible  hand,  appears,  and  the  presumptuous  mon- 
arch, after  having  seen  his  doom  recorded  on  the  wall  of  his 
own  palace,  is  suddenly  cut  down,  and  his  kingdom  given  to 
another. 


226 


HELTOIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


Afv  heart  is  jlxtd. — P:».  cviii.  1.     I  press  toward  the  mark,  for  tht 
Phil,  iii,  14. 


DECISION  AND  PERSEVERANCE. 


See  where  the  Alps  rear  up  their  giant  brow ! 
King  of  the  mounts,  with  coronet  of  enow ; 
Scorning  all  time,  and  change,  his  stalwart  form. 
Endures  the  peltings  of  eternal  storm  ; 
In  awful  pride,  enthroned  above  the  skies, 
Peaks  upon  peaks  in  matchless  grandeur  rise : 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  227 

*Mid  frowning  glaciers  on  whose  icy  crest. 
The  savage  vulture  builds  its  craggy  nest, 
^    The  fathomless  abyss  extends  beneath, 

And  leads  the  traveller  to  the  realms  of  death: 
Napoleon  comes  in  quest  of  fame  and  power. 
He  scans  the  mounts  that  high  above  him  tower. 
Though  "  barely  possible,"  he  will  "  advance," 
And  in  Italia  plant  the  flag  of  France  ; 
In  vain  the  mountain,  like  a  dreadful  ghost, 
Rises  to  frighten  the  advancing  host. 
O'er  towering  cliff  and  yawning  gulf  he  speeds. 
He  means  to  pass  nor  aught  of  danger  heeds  ; 
He  scales  the  summit  with  his  conquering  train. 
And  like  the  vulture  swoops  upon  the  plain. 

Here  the  Alps  lift  up  their  snow-capped  heads  in 
awful  sublimity  ;  their  icy  pinnacles  tower  above  the 
clouds  ;  their  colossal  forms  arise,  mountain  on  moun- 
tain piled.  To  all  save  the  bounding  chamois  or  his 
intrepid  pursuer,  they  appear  inaccessible  ;  here  vast 
overhanging  precipices  threaten  destruction,  and 
there  the  treacherous  abyss  lies  concealed,  ready  to 
engulf  the  unwary  traveller;  Winter  reigns  supreme 
upon  his  throne  of  desolation  ;  eternal  tempests  in- 
crease the  horror  of  the  scene.  In  vain  does  the 
famished  traveller  search  for  some  stunted  lichen, 
or  the  smallest  animal,  to  save  him  from  approaching 
death  ;  he  sees  nothing  but  boundless  seas  of  ice- 
no  signs  of  life  are  there — it  seems  the  very  tomb  of 
nature  ;  the  solemn  solitude  is  broken  only  by  the 
roar  of  the  tempest  or  the  thunder  of  the  avalanche. 

Yet  over  all  these  obstacles  Napoleon  would  ad- 
vance ;  he  inquires  of  the  engineer  Marescot,  who 
has  just  explored  the  wild  passes  of  the  St.  Bernard, 
if  it  is  possible  to  pass.  "  Barely  possible"  answers 
the  officer.  "  Yery  well,"  says  Napoleon,  "  en 
avant,"  "  advance,"  and  at  the  head  of  his  army  of 
above  30,000  men,  with  their  arms,  horses,  and  ar- 
tillery, he   commences   the  arduous  passage.     The 


228  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

mountains  seem  to  bid  defiance  to  the  utmost  effbrfg 
of  the  martial  host  ;  but  dangers  and  difficulties  detjr 
him  not ;  like  the  gale  that  wafts  the  vessel  soon  t 
into  port,  they  only  urge  him  on  toward  the  object  of 
his  ambition  ;  he  conducts  the  army  over  slippery 
glaciers,  wide  yawning  ravines,  and  eternal  snows  ; 
he  braves  the  fury  of  the  tempest,  and  the  crash  of 
the  avalanche — and  overcoming  every  obstacle,  he 
swoops  upon  Italy  like  the  Alpine  eagle  upon  his  prey. 

In  the  conduct  of  Napoleon  in  this  instance,  we 
have  a  striking  example  of  decision  and  perseverance. 
If  we  can^,"  out  of  the  eater  bring  forth  meat,"  and 
•*  from  the  strong  bring  forth  sweetness,"  it  will  be 
well. 

The  importance  of  possessing  a  decided  character 
is  best  seen  in  its  results,  as  the  value  of  a  tree  i8 
best  known  by  its  fi-uits  ;  by  its  aid  Napoleon  accom- 
plished the  objects  of  his  ambition — fame,  and 
wealth,  and  glory,  and  power.  With  it,  a  man  at- 
tains that  which  he  sets  his  heart  upon ;  without  it, 
he  becomes  easily  discouraged  and  fails.  With  it, 
he  controls  his  own  movements,  and  influences,  also, 
the  conduct  of  others  ;  without  it,  he  loses  his  own 
individuality,  and  becomes  a  creature  of  circum- 
stances. In  fine,  man  without  decision,  is  like  a  rud- 
derless vessel,  tossed  upon  an  uncertain  sea  ;  while 
the  decided  character,  like  the  genius  of  the  storm, 
commands  the  winds  and  the  waves,  and  they  obey 
him. 

The  importance  of  decision  being  so  apparent,  it 
becomes  an  interesting  inquiry,  "  How  can  it  be  ob- 
tained ?"  After  a  proper  object  of  pursuit  is  selected, 
it  seems  essential  that  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  ob- 
ject should  be  secured  ;  no  pains  ought  to  be  spared 
in  order  to  obtain  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  object 
or  profession,  in  all  its  parts  ;  this  is  necessary  to 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  829 

the  foundation  of  such  a  character.  The  traveller 
who  knows  his  way,  walks  with  a  firm  step,  while  he 
that  is  in  doubt  about  his  path,  advances  with  hesita- 
tion. 

Another  thing  deemed  essential,  is  Confidence  in 
the  object  of  our  choice,  that  it  will  yield  us  satisfac- 
tion ;  possessing  a  knowledge  of  our  route,  and  a 
belief  that  at  the  end  of  our  journey  we  shall  be  at 
home,  the  things  that  discourage  others  have  no  in- 
fiuence  at  all  upon  us.  So  it  is  with  the  decided 
character,  in  the  path  he  has  chosen.  Does  opposi- 
tion present  itself?  he  assumes  the  attitude  of  a  gla- 
diator, determined  to  conquer  or  die  ;  does  danger 
appear,  as  it  did  to  Shadrach  and  his  companions, 
when  the  burning  fiery  furnace  stood  in  their  path  ? 
he  burns  the  more  ardently  to  fulfill  his  mission.  Is 
he  ridiculed,  as  were  the  builders  of  the  walls  of  Je- 
rusalem ?  he  heeds  it  not,  he  still  goes  forward.  Fi- 
nally, does  he  find  himself  forsaken  ?  it  throws  him 
on  his  own  resources,  it  makes  him  fimier  in  his  pur- 
pose, as  the  tree  that  stands  alone  and  braves  the 
storm,  strikes  deeper  its  roots  into  the  ground.  If  en- 
gaged  in  a  good  cause  he  is,  like  Milton's  Abdiel, 

"  Faithful  found 
"  Among  the  faithless,  faithful  only  ha 
"  Among  innumeral  le  false,  unmoved, 
"  Unbroken,  unseduced,  unterrified, 
"  His  loyalty  he  kept,  his  love,  his  zeal. 
"  Nor  number,  nor  example,  with  him  wrought, 
"  To  swerve  from  truth  or  change  his  constant  mind, 
"  Though  single." 

In  the  case  of  Napoleon  the  above  points  were 
exemplified  ;  he  selected,  as  the  object  of  his  choice, 
military  warfare — he  made  himself  acquainted  with 
every  thing  belonging  to  it  as  a  science.  He  had 
confidence  in  it,  as  a  means  of  procuring  him  the 


230  HELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

highest  objects  of  his  ambition  ;  hence  his  devotion 
to  it — hence  his  perseverance  ;  dangers  and  difficul- 
ties are  seized  as  allies — he  rises  with  the  storm,  and 
"  barely  possible,"  is  k)  him  an  assurance  of  success. 
To  the  Christian  soldier,  decision  is  of  the  highest 
importance  ;  he  has  selected  the  Christian  warfare 
as  a  means  of  procuring  to  him,  "  Glory,  Honor,  and 
Immortality."  "  If  the  righteous  are  scarcely  saved," 
it  behooves  him  to  know  what  belongs  to  "  his  call- 
ing." He  needs  a  knowledge  of  himself,  of  his  du- 
ties, and  of  his  privileges  ;  a  knowledge  of  the  way, 
its  dangers,  and  its  difficulties  ;  a  knowledge  of  his 
enemies,  their  methods,  and  their  power ;  a  knowl- 
edge of  his  Almighty  leader,  of  his  Spirit,  and  of  his 
woi*d.  He  needs  a  living,  practical  faith,  in  religion, 
that  it  will  secure  to  him  "  Eternal  Life."  Opposi- 
tion, danger,  and  death,  may  stare  him  in  the  face, 
but  if  decided,  he  w^ill  say  "  none  of  these  things 
move  me,"  "  my  heart  is  fixed,  I  will  sing  and  give 
praise,"  and  having  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith,  he 
will  be  enrolled  among  those  who  persevere  to  the 
end,  and  are  saved  : — 

"  Faith,  mighty  faith,  the  promise  sees,  and  looks  to  that  alone, 
Laughs  at  impossibilities,  and  cries  '  it  shall  be  done  ."  " 

Decision  of  character  may,  however,  belong  to 
very  different  individuals ;  to  the  bad  as  well  as  the 
good,  to  Satan  as  well  as  to  Abdiel.  We  may,  like 
Enoch,  "  set  ourselves"  to  walk  with  God  ;  or  be 
like  the  wicked  whose  "  heart  is  full}  set  in  them  to 
do  evil.  We  may  say  with  pious  Joshua,  "choose 
you  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve,  but  as  for  me  and 
my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord  ;"  or  with  ambi 
tious  Pizarro,  we  may  draw  the  line  with  the  sword, 
and  say,  "  on  this  side  lie  poverty  and  Panama,  on 
that,  Peiii  and  gold  ;  as  for  me  and  the  brave,  wc 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


231 


will  cross  the  line."  With  the  martyr  Paul,  we  may 
exclaim  "  I  go  to  Jerusalem,  though  bonds  and  af- 
flictions await  me  there."  Or  with  the  patriot  Pom- 
oey,  "  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  be  at  Rome,  though 
It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  live." 

The  following  anecdotes  related  by  Foster,  exhibit 
striking  examples  of  decision  and  perseverance  : 

"  An  estimable  old  man,  being  on  a  jury,  in  a  trial  of  life 
and  death,  was  completely  satisfied  of  the  innocence  of  the 
prisoner ;  the  other  eleven  were  of  the  opposite  opinion,  but 
he  was  resolved  the  man  should  not  be  condemned.  As  the 
first  effort  for  preventing  it,  he  made  application  to  the  minds 
of  his  associates,  but  he  found  he  made  no  impression  ;  he 
then  calmly  told  them  that  he  would  sooner  die  of  famine  than 
release  them  at  the  expense  of  the  prisoners  life.  The  result 
was  a  verdict  of  acquittal."  "V^Tiat  follows  is  a  less  worthy  in- 
stance : 

"  A  young  man  having  wasted,  in  two  or  three  years,  a  large 
fortune,  was  reduced  to  absolute  want.  He  went  out,  one  day, 
with  the  intention  of  putting  an  end  to  his  life  ;  wandering 
along  he  came  to  the  brow  of  an  eminence  that  overlooked 
what  were  once  his  own  estates  ;  here  he  sat  down  and  re- 
mained fixed  in  thought  some  hours.  At  length  he  sprang  up 
with  a  vehement  exulting  emotion — he  had  formed  the  resolu- 
tion that  all  these  estates  should  be  his  own  again  ;  he  had 
formed  his  plan  also,  which  he  began  immediately  to  execute  ; 
he  walked  forward  determined  to  seize  the  very  first  opportu- 
nity to  gain  money,  and  resolved  not  to  spend  a  cent  of  it,  if 
he  could  help  it.  The  first  thing  was  a  heap  of  coals  shot  be- 
fore a  house  ;  he  offered  to  wheel  them  into  their  place — he  re- 
ceived a  few  pence  for  his  labor  ;  he  then  asked  for  something 
to  eat,  which  was  given  him.  In  this  way  he  proceeded,  al- 
ways turning  his  gains  to  some  advantage,  till  in  the  end  he 
more  than  realized  his  lost  possessions,  and  died  a  miaer,  worth 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  dollais.*' 


232 


RELIGI^rs    ALLEGORIES. 


S7ii  fool  rageth. — Prov.  xiv.  16.    Let  patience  have  her  perfect  work, 
James,  i.  4. 

PASSION  AND  PATIENCE. 

Behold  here  !  Passion,  stamping,  mad  with  rage  ; 

He  tries  the  knotted  cord  to  disengage. 

He  twists  and  twirls,  and  fumes  and  frets  in  vain. 

And  all  impatient  cuts  the  cord  in  twain. 

See  !  there  is  gold  !  that  Providence  has  sent: 

Favor  abused — it  feeds  his  discontent. 


<y 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  233 

His  soul  a  tempest — storms  around  him  rise  ; 
Thunder  and  lightning  shake  the  trembling  skies : 
A  troubled  ocean — white  with  foaming  spray, 
Whose  restless  waters  cast  up  mire  and  clay. 

But  mark  the  contrast !  Patience  much  at  ease, 
Th'  intricate  cord  unravels  by  degrees. 
No  bags  of  gold  has  he.     But  what  is  more, 
He  has  content — of  this  an  ample  store  ; 
While  the  bright  Rainbow,  sparkling  in  the  sky. 
Is  pledge  to  him  of  future  joys  on  high  : 
His  soul  a  calm — by  mellow  hght  caressed  ; 
A  placid  lake — whose  waters  are  at  rest. 

Two  very  different  characters  are  here  presented 
to  our  view  :  Passion,  storming,  wild  with  rage — 
Patience,  calm  and  tranquil.  For  some  time,  Passion 
has  been  endeavoring  to  unravel  a  hank  of  entangled 
twine  or  cord,  In  his  great  hurry,  he  entangles  it 
more  and  more.  It  is  full  of  knots  ;  he  grows  hot 
with  rage ;  his  face  is  miscreated ;  he  wears  the  as- 
pect  of  a  fury.  Stamping  with  anger,  he  tramples 
upon  some  toys  that  lay  near  him,  and  breaks  them  into 
pieces.  A  bag  of  gold  is  seen  standing  at  his  side. 
This  only  feeds  his  pride  ;  it  makes  him  more  outra- 
geous to  think  that  he  should  have  such  work  assigned 
him.  A  tempest  is  seen  to  arise  behind  him  ;  the 
clouds  gather  blackness  ;  thunders  roll ;  fearful  light- 
nings glare  around.  This  is  to  show  the  state  of  his 
mind — wild,  fiery  and  tempestuous.  He  is  also  fully 
represented  by  the  troubled  sea,  seen  in  the  back 
ground.  Tumultuous  it  tosses  its  foaming  billows  ; 
its  restless  water  casts  up  mire  and  dirt.  So  his 
troubled  spirit,  agitated  by  the  tumult  of  his  passions, 
gives  utterance  to  oaths,  ])lasphemies  and  impreca- 
tions.  Miserable  youth!  The  fire  of  hell  is  en- 
kindled  within  him  ' 

Patience,  on  the  other  hand,  sits  with  unniffled 
composure.     He,  too,  has  had  the  same  work  assigned 


234  BELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

him.  He  has  the  knotted  cord  to  unravel ;  but  he 
goes  about  it  in  the  spiiit  of  duty  ;  patiently  he  unties 
knot  after  knot,  overcomes  difficulty  after  difficulty, 
until  the  whole  is  cleared.  He  has  finished  his  task  ; 
he  is  seen  looking  upward,  to  show  that  he  seeks  help 
and  counsel  from  on  high.  A  heavenly  light  descends 
and  sheds  its  luster  round  about  him.  Help  is  afford- 
ed. In  the  back-ground  is  seen  a  placid  lake  :  this 
denotes  the  composure  of  his  mind.  Not  a  wave  of 
perplexity  dashes  across  his  peaceful  breast.  He  has 
not  riches  ;  no  gold  is  seen  shining  by  his  side  ;  he 
is,  however,  contented  with  his  condition  ;  nor  is  he 
without  hope  of  future  good.  The  Bow  of  Promise, 
glittering  in  the  distant  sky,  intimates  to  us  that  be 
looks  forward  to  a  future  recompense. 

Passion  represents  a  man  of  the  world :  one  who 
has  his  portion  in  this  life.  The  Almighty  Father  has 
appointed  a  work  to  all  men  ^  yea,  every  thing  living — 
moving — creeping — swimming — flying — has  its  work 
to  do.  Duty  is  incumbent  upon  all.  It  is  a  condition 
of  existence ;  it  is  also  a  condition  of  happiness. 
Man  is  under  this  universal  law.  The  man  of  the 
world,  lacking  the  proper  qualifications  for  duty,  fails 
in  discharging  it  aright.  He  works  from  wrong  mo- 
lives,  and  tor  wa-ong  ends  ;  he  does  all  to  the  glory  of 
self     No  wonder  he  makes  such  bungling  work  of  it. 

By  the  knotted  cord,  may  be  understood  those  dif- 
ficult passages  of  life  through  which  man,  as  such,  has 
to  pass — afflictions,  disappointments,  etc.  These  are 
more  than  the  worldly-minded  man  can  bear.  The 
reason  seems  clear  enough.  He  has  set  his  heart 
upon  earthly  objects  ;  hence  the  removal  of  these  ob- 
jects  from  him,  affects  him  very  sensibly.  These  are 
thy  gods,  O  man  of  the  world  !  When  trouble  comes, 
of  course  he  does  not  look  upward  ;  he  has  no  busi- 
ness   there.     He   looks   down — down — continually 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  235 

**  He  leans  to  his  own  understanding,"  instead  of  wait- 
ing  for  further  developments.  He  becomes  impatient, 
fretful,  peevish,  angry  and  passionate.  He  would 
f'urse  God  and  die,  if  he  v.as  not  afraid  to  die.     He  is 

"  Instantly,  with  wild  demoniac  rage, 
"  For  breaking  all  the  chains  of  Providence, 
"  And  bursting  his  confinement,  though  fast  barr'd 
"  By  laws  divine  and  human." 

Providence  may  have  lavished  wealth  upon  him:  he 
spurns  the  giver;  he  abuses  his  gifts.  His  pride  be- 
comes  more  inflamed ;  his  table  becomes  a  snare 
unto  him  ;  his  riches  add  to  his  discontent.  What  he 
needs,  though  he  may  not  knov/  it,  is  a  hope  beyond 
the  grave.  He  has  title  deeds  enough  on  parchment, 
but  none  to  the  kingdom  of  Heaven — houses  and 
lands,  but  no  "  hiding  place"  in  which  to  enter  when 
the  great  day  of  His  wrath  shall  come.  He  has  no 
anchor  to  enable  his  vessel  to  ride  out  the  gales  of 
adversity.  Clouds  and  darkness  surround  him;  a 
tempest  is  in  his  path ;  he  is  a  cloud  carried  with  the 
tempest,  to  whom  is  reserved  the  mist  of  darkness  for- 
ever ;  a  troubled  sea,  which  cannot  rest,  whose  waters 
cast  up  mire  and  dirt. 

Patience  represents  the  man  of  God — him  who  has 
chosen  God  and  the  world  to  come  for  his  portion. 
In  this  world,  he,  too,  has  presented  to  him  the  knot- 
ted cord — trials,  perplexities  and  afflictions.  Man  is 
bom  to  trouble.  He  endures  all  things  as  seeing 
him  who  is  invisible  ;  in  patience  he  possesseth  his 
soul.  He  looks  at  the  difficulty  calmly  ;  he  considers 
what  is  best  to  be  done,  and  wiiich  is  the  best  way  to 
do  it.  If  it  is  beyond  his  power  or  skill,  he  looks  to 
God  for  assistance.  The  composed  state  of  his  mind 
gives  him  a  great  advantage  over  the  impatient  one ; 
bu^  if  he  finds  his  own  arm  too  short,  he  is  intimate 


236 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEOOBIES 


with  One  who  is  mighty  to  save,  and  who  is  a  very 
present  help  in  times  of  trouble.  Soon  the  knot  is 
untied,  the  difficulty  is  overcome,  and  the  victory  is 
gained.  Hence  a  holy  calm  pervades  him  ;  he  know? 
that  all  things  are  working  together  for  his  good.  His 
soul  is  like  a  placid  lake,  reflecting  the  rosy  light  of 
heaven. 

Earth  to  him  may  be  a  tempestuous  ocean  ;  but  the 
eye  of  faith  ever  sees  the  beacon  of  Truth  gleaming 
across  its  dark  blue  wave,  pointing  him  to  the  haven 
of  repose.  Therefore,  though  cast  down,  he  is  not  de- 
stroyed— perplexed,  yet  never  in  despair.  He  reckons 
that  his  light  afflictions  will  work  for  him  a  far  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.  He  looks  not 
at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  those  that  are  not 
seen.  He  has  no  gold — he  is  poor  ;  but  the  Bow  of 
Promise  spans  tor  him  its  glorious  arch.  "  He  i^ 
joyful  in  hope."  He  is  reminded  of  his  inheritance 
above.  There  he  has  a  throne  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  King  of  Glory — a  mansion  in  the  skies — a  bower 
in  paradise — a  rest  in  Abraham's  bosom  — a  shelter 
from  the  storm — a  city  which  has  foundations.  No 
wonder  that  he  sets  his  affections  on  things  that  are 
above.  There  is  his  portion  fair — there,  too,  is  his 
heart — there  is  his  eternal  dwelling  place.  He  would 
rather  have  the  lot  of  Lazarus  here,  and  his  portion 
hereafter, than  fare  sumptuously  everyday  with  Dives, 
and  be  perplexed  with  him  at  last  in  the  hell  of  tor- 
ment. As  he  walks  through  the  vale  of  poverty  and 
distress,  the  heavenly  light  shines  around  him,  and 
awakens  the  voice  of  song  : 

"  Although  the  fig  tree  shall  not  blossom, 
"  Neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vines ; 
"  The  labor  of  the  olive  shall  fail, 
**  And  the  fields  shall  yield  no  meat ; 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  237 

"  The  flocks  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  fold, 
*'  And  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stalls : 
"  Yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord — 
"  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  Salvation." 

How  greatly  is  Patience  to  be  preferred  before 
Pas5ion.  Passion  is  a  fury,  breathing  out  threaten- 
ing and  slaughter  ;  Patience  is  a  cherub,  whispering 
words  of  love  and  joy.  Passion  is  a  tempest,  charged 
with  lightnings,  hail  and  thunder;  Patience  is  a  holy 
calm,  where  peace  reigns  and  stillness  triumphs. 
The  one  is  a  troubled  sea,  casting  up  mire  and  dirt — 
the  other,  a  placid  lake  illuumined  by  the  mellow  light 
of  heaven.  The  one  a  foretaste  of  the  fire  of  hell— 
the  other,  a  pledge  of  everlasting  repose. 

"  The  man  possessed  among  the  tombs, 
Cuts  his  ov\-n  flesh  and  cries  ; 
He  foams  and  raves,  till  Jesua  comes. 
And  the  foul  spirit  flies." 

"  Beloved  self  must  be  denied — 
The  mind  and  will  renewed  ; 
Passion  oppress'd  and  patience  try'd. 
And  vain  desires  subdu'd." 


Lord,  how  secure  and  blest  are  they. 
Who  feel  the  joys  of  pardon'd  sin  ! 

Should  storms  of  wrath  shake  earth  and  sea, 
Their  minds  have  heaven  and  peace  within." 

How  oft  they  look  to  heavenly  hills, 

Where  streams  of  living  pleasures  flow; 

And  longing  hopes  and  cheerful  smiles 
Sit  undisturb'd  upon  their  brow !" 


238 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


Fight  the  good  f.glit.    1  Tim.  vi.  l-2—iaUn^  the  shield  of  Faith end 

t/ie  Sicord  of  the  Spirit.    Eph.  vi.  16,  17. 


THE  CONQUERING  CHRISTIAN. 

A  glorious  Temple  rises  to  our  view, 

The  conquering  Christian  fights  his  passage  Uirough, 

His  dreadful  foes  who  now  attack  him  sore. 

False  Shame  behind,  fell  Unbelief  before. 

And  worldly  Love — great  idol  here  below, 

Unites  to  aid  in  Christian's  overthrow ; 

But  he,  courageous,  takes  at  once  the  fieli 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


239 


Armed  with  his  ancient,  well-appointed  shield  ; 

A  two-edged  sword  he  wields,  well  known  to  fame. 

And  prostrates  at  one  blow  the  dastard  Shame  ; 

On  Worldly  JiOvc  he  falls  with  many  a  blow. 

And  soon  he  lays  the  usurping  monster  low. 

Now  Unbehef,  the  champion  of  the  rest, 

Enraged,  bestirs  him,  and  lays  on  his  best ; 

A  fearful  thrust  he  makes  at  Christian's  heart. 

The  Shield  of  Faith  receives  the  murd'rous  dart  ; 

With  his  good  sword  brave  Christian  wounds  him  sore, 

And  out  of  combat  he  is  seen  no  more  ; 

Into  the  Temple  now  the  Victor  speeds. 

And  Angel  Minstrels  chant  his  valiant  deeds. 

The  above  represents  a  man  figliting  his  way 
toward  a  beautiful  Palace  ;  it  is  his  home.  F'rom 
various  causes  he  has  been  long  estranged  from  his 
paternal  inheritance.  He  is  by  some  means  reminded 
of  its  endearing  associations— of  its  ancient  magnifi- 
cence— of  its  voices  of  happiness  and  love  ;  pleasant 
things  to  delight  the  eye ;  choral  symphonies  to 
enchant  the  ear  ;  rich  viands  to  gratify  the  taste,  are 
there.  He  becomes  anxious  to  return  ;  he  determines 
at  once  to  regain  possession  of  his  mansion,  or  perish 
in  the  attempt.  He  meets  with  opposition  ;  the  odds 
is  fearful,  three  to  one.  His  enemies  do  not  abso- 
lately  deny  his  rights,  yet  they  are  determined  to 
oppose  him  to  the  uttermost.  He  gives  battle,  and  by 
dint  of  skill  and  courage,  he  routs  his  foes,  gains  a 
complete  victory,  and  enters  his  home  in  triumph. 

This  allegory  represents  a  part  of  the  Christian 
warfare.  The  temple  or  palace  signifies  that  glo- 
rious inheritance  which  the  Almighty  Father  has  be- 
queathed to  all  of  his  children.  It  contains  all  that 
can  please,  delight,  or  enchant  the  soul,  and  that  for- 
evermore.  For  it  is  an  inheritance  that  is  incorrupti- 
ble, undefQed,  and  which  fadeth  not  away.  The 
Hero  denotes  a  man  who  has  decided  to  be  a  Chris* 


240  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

tian.  By  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  his 
heart,  he  is  convinced  of  his  outcast  condition — of 
the  impotency  of  created  good  to  make  him  happy— 
of  the  insignificance  of  the  things  of  time  compared 
with  those  of  eternity.  Convinced  of  these,  in  the 
strength  of  grace,  he  says,  "  I  will  arise  and  go  to 
my  Father,"  and  he  goes  accordingly.  But  he  soon 
meets  with  enemies  who  powerfully  oppose  his  pro- 
gress, and  among  the  first  of  these  is 

Shame.  Our  passions,  or  powers  of  feeling  have 
been  given  to  us  by  our  benevolent  Creator,  to  sub- 
serve our  happiness,  and  shame  among  the  rest. 

"  Art  divine 
Thus  made  the  body  tutor  to  the  soul — 
Heaven  kindly  gives  our  blood  a  moral  flow 
And  bids  it  ascend  the  glowmg  cheek." 

Shame  stands  as  a  sentinel  to  warn  us  of  danger, 
and  so  put  us  on  our  guard.  But  all  of  our  passions 
are  perverted  from  tbeir  proper  uses,  and  sin  has 
done  it.  Therefore  as  man  loves  darkness  rather 
than  light — calls  evil  good  and  good  evil — puts  bitter 
for  sweet  and  sweet  for  bitter — so  also  he  changes 
the  proper  uses  of  shame.  Instead  of  being  ashamed 
of  the  bad,  he  is  ashamed  of  the  good.  Shame  is 
an  enemy  hard  to  conquer.  The  convert  finds  it  so. 
He  feels  ashamed  at  first  to  be  seen  by  his  old  com- 
panions, in  company  with  the  truly  pious  ;  or  going 
to  a  religious  meeting— or  on  his  knees  praying — or 
in  any  way  carrying  the  cross  of  Him  whom  he  has 
now  chosen  to  be  his  Master.  Shame  confronts  him 
every  where,  and  gives  him  to  understand  that  for 
the  most  part,  religious  people  are  a  poor,  low,  and 
ignorant  set ;  that  no  person  of  character  will  as- 
associate  with  them,  etc.  Christian  remembers  that 
what  is  highly  esteemed  among  men  is  had  in  abom 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOBIES.  241 

ination  \vith  God.  That  shame  after  all,  is  the  pro- 
motion of  foals  only.  Thus  he  vanquisheth  shame 
by  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  even  by  the  word  of  the 
Lord. 

As  soon  as  shame  is  disposed  of,  another  foe  ap- 
pears— Love  of  the  world.  This  consists  in  a  greater 
attachment  to  this  present  world,  than  becomes  one 
who  is  so  soon  to  leave  it  and  live  forever  in  another. 
As  the  boy  should  learn  what  he  may  need  when  he 
shall  become  a  man,  so  should  the  mortal  acquire 
what  it  may  need  when  it  puts  on  immortality.  The 
natural  man  is  so  strongly  wedded  to  earthly  objects, 
that  to  him  the  separation  is  impossible.  Argument 
will  not  effect  it.  He  may  be  convinced  intellect- 
ually, that  the  things  of  earth  are  transitory  and  un- 
satisfying,  yet  he  pursues  them  eagerly.  His  feel- 
ings may  be  lacerated  by  the  death  of  some  beloved 
relative,  and  his  hopes  blasted  by  the  loss  of  pro- 
perty, still  he  cleaves  to  earth.  The  power  of  the 
Almighty  alone  can  help  him.  He  needs  a  new  prin- 
ciple of  feeling  and  of  action  ;  even  that  of  faith 
that  overcomes  the  world.  Obtaining  this  principle, 
he  looks  not  at  the  things  that  are  seen,  but  at  those 
which  are  unseen. 

The  genuine  Christian  convert  has  many  conflicts 
ere  he  can  set  his  affections  on  the  things  above. 
Worldly  Love  opposes  him  persevoringly ;  in  his 
religious  experience  ;   in  his  self-denying  duties  ;   in 

his givings,  and  in  his  sufferings.     The  Christian, 

however,  knows  that  he  must  conquer  that  foe,  or 
perish — therefDre  he  sets  hims'^lf  to  meditate  upon 
his  duty — he  searches  the  Scriptures — he  finds  th-^t 
God's  enemies  are  those  who  min:l  earthly  things — 
he  wishes  not  to  join  them — that  the  love  of  the 
world  is  hatred  to  God — if  any  man  love  the  world, 
the  love  of  the    Father  is  not  in  him  ;  and  animated 


242  KELIGIOUS   ALLEGORIES. 

by  the  example  of  Christ  his  Lord,  who  left  heaven 
for  man,  he  renounces  earth  for  God.  He  dies  to 
the  world  and  lives  to  Christ.  As  a  soldier  of  Jesus 
he  fights  under  his  banners,  and  comes  off  more  than 
a  conqueror  through  Him  who  has  loved  him. 

Unbelief  IS  a  gigantic  foe.  He  is  indeed  the  cham- 
pion of  all  the  rest,  peculiarly  skillful  and  bold  in  his 
attacks.  He  knows  how  to  shift  his  ground  adroitly. 
Sometimes  he  assails  vehemently,  denying  Chris- 
tianity itself;  nay,  the  very  existence  of  the  Al- 
mighty, declaring  that  "  God  is  nature,  and  that  there 
is  no  other  god,"  and  that  "  death  is  an  eternal  sleep." 
Thus  by  one  stroke  he  would  sweep  away  the  being 
and  attributes  of  the  Eternal  ;  the  doctrines,  prom- 
ises and  commandments  of  the  word  of  God,  man's 
responsibilities,  and  consequent  duties.  Were  this 
stroke  successful,  it  would  deprive  man  of  all  happi- 
ness in  this  life,  and  of  the  consolations  of  hope  in 
the  life  that  is  after  death.  It  expels  him  a  second 
time  from  paradise  into  a  desert  where  not  even 
thijrns  and  briars  spring  up  for  his  support. 

Unbelief,  however,  does  not  always  act  so  boldly. 
Sometimes  he  admits  the  existence  of  God,  and  the 
subject  of  religion  in  general,  but  denies  that  man 
owes  duties  to  the  former,  or  that  he  is  interested  in 
the  latter.  He  will  even  approve  of  the  form  of  re- 
ligion, provided  there  is  no  power,  no  faith,  no  Holy 
Spirit  in  it.  Unbelief  in  this  form  destroys  thou- 
sands of  immortal  souls  who  profess  Christ,  yet  not 
having  true  faith,  in  works  deny  him.  He  that  be- 
lieveth  not  shall  be  damned. 

Sometimes  unbelief  attacks  the  Christian  under 
the  garb  of  benevolence.  He  pities  and  deplores 
most  feelingly,  the  present  evils  that  flesh  ia  heir  to. 
He  promises  you  a  terrestrial  heaven.  But,  first,  the 
present  order  of  things  must  be  abolished.     All  ia- 


I 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES,  2  43 

fititations,  political  and  religious,  must  be  abrogated. 
The  foundations  of  society  nnust  be  broken  up — its 
frame-work  dissolved — that  is  to  say,  a  perfect  chaos 
must  be  made,  out  of  wh'ch  shall  arise  a  perfect  para- 
dise. You  must  first  pass  through  a  vast  howling 
wilderness  where  no  water  is,  and  then  (if  indeed 
your  carcass  does  not  fall  in  the  wdlderness)  you 
will  be  conducted  into  the  promised  land. 

In  these  ways  does  unbelief  make  his  onsets,  suit- 
ing his  methods  to  the  dispositions  of  the  age,  or  to 
the  circumstances  of  individuals.  The  Christian  re- 
pels them  with  the  shield  of  faith,  and  the  sword  of 
the  spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God.  He  possesses 
the  divine  word  which  is  full  of  promises,  and  that 
faith  w^hich  is  a  deep  conviction  of  things  not  seen, 
and  the  substance  or  foundation  of  things  hoped  for. 
Therefore  he  gives  no  quarter  to  unbelief;  God  hath 
spoken,  it  is  enough.  There  is  a  mansion  for  him  ; 
he  will  possess  it.  His  Saviour  has  conquered  and 
reigns.  He  will  conquer  and  reign  also.  He  be- 
holds by  faith,  a  glorious  mansion,  a  palm  of  victory, 
a  song  of  triumph,  a  crown  of  life.  Animated  by 
the  prospect,  he  fights  his  way  through  all  his  foes, 
and  as  he  fights  he  sings — 

**  The  glorious  crown  of  Righteoosness, 
To  me  reached  out,  I  view. 
Conqueror  through  Christ  I  seen  shall  riAa« 
And  wear  it  as  my  due." 

31 


244 


RELIGIOUS    AI,T,KGORIES. 


Who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all. — 1  Tim.  ii.  6. 

THE  IMPERIAL  PHILANTHROPIST. 

The  hapless  crew  upon  the  reef  are  cast ; 

And  round  them  rages  wild  the  furious  blast ; 

Deep  calls  to  deep  with  wide-mouthed  thundering  roar. 

Loud  beat  the  billows  on  the  rock-bound  shore ; 

Crash  after  crash  is  heard  with  fearful  shock. 

As  the  boat  dashes  on  the  craggy  rock. 

The  affrighted  crew  nor  skill  nor  courage  have. 

To  save  their  bark  from  the  devouring  wave  ; 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEG0RLE8.  245 

Russia's  great  Czar  beholds  them  on  the  reef 

And  nobly  hastens  to  afford  relief: 

Boldly  he  plunges  in  the  boiling  waves; 

And  all  the  fury  of  the  tempest  braves, 

He  leaps  on  board,  and  with  a  skillful  hand, 

Through  rocks  and  breakers,  brings  them  safe  to  land. 

We  have  here  a  picture  of  danger  and  of  deliver 
ance.  Peter  the  Great,  Emperor  of  all  the  Russia?, 
Bad  been  sailing  in  one  of  his  yachts  as  far  as  the 
Ladoga  Lake  ;  finding  himself  refreshed  by  the  sea- 
breeze,  instead  of  landing  at  St.  Petersburg,  he  sailed 
down  the  Neva  toward  the  open  sea  of  the  gulph  of 
Finland.  The  day  had  been  very  fine  ;  toward  eve- 
ning, however,  the  weather  suddenly  changed ;  the 
Emperor  resolved  to  land,  but  he  had  scarcely  reached 
the  shore,  when  the  storm  burst  forth  in  all  its  fury. 
The  waves  rose  and  beat  against  the  craggy  rocks 
of  the  coast,  and  the  wind  roared  from  the  wild  sky 
with  a  thundering  voice  ;  in  a  few  minutes  a  black 
cloud,  let  down  like  a  curtain,  hid  the  scene  from 
view.  Still,  however,  the  Emperor  looked  and  li«t. 
ened  ;  he  thought  he  heard  the  voice  of  distress  min- 
gling with  the  yell  of  the  storm ;  his  penetrating 
glance  soon  discovered  a  boat  struggling  against  the 
rolling  surge,  that  was  driving  it  towards  the  furious 
breakers.  The  men,  most  of  them  being  soldiers, 
are  evidently  at  a  loss  what  to  do ;  presently  the  boat  is 
dashed  upon  a  reef;  the  sea  breaks  over  it  mountains 
high.  The  Emperor  immediately  sends  a  vessel  to 
their  aid,  but  in  vain ;  the  men  on  board  want  both 
skill  and  courage  to  execute  the  dangerous  task. 
The  poor  men  on  the  reef,  seeing  themselves  de- 
serted by  their  companions,  rend  the  air  with  their 
piteous  cries  for  help  ;  the  Emperor  can  contain  him. 
self  no  longer, — he  springs  into  his  own  boat,  calling 
on  all  who  have  hearts  to  dare  fir  th^'ir  hrethr.-ti.  to 


246  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES, 

follow  him.  By  great  exertions  he  reaches  as  ncai  io 
the  suflerers  as  the  breakers  will  allow — he  perceives 
that  he  is  yet  too  far  off  to  aid  them — what  they  need 
is  a  skillful  pilot — he  plunges  into  the  raging  billows, 
bravely  he  buffets  the  mountain  surge,  now  floating 
on  the  topmost  wave,  now  sinking  in  the  depths  be- 
neath ;  soon  he  gains  the  boat, — he  springs  on  board 
like  a  delivering  angel.  The  men,  resouled  at  sight 
of  the  Emperor  risking  his  life  to  save  them,  renew 
their  efforts — they  soon  get  off  the  shoal  into  deep 
water,  and  the  Emperor  guides  them  skillfully  through 
the  rocks  and  shoals,  and  brings  them  safe  to  land. 

Now  he  is  overwhelmed  with  the  grateful  demon- 
strations of  those  whom  he  has  saved  from  the  jaws 
of  destruction,  and  of  those  happy  wives  and  chil- 
dren, who  but  for  him  would  now  have  been  orphans 
and  widows ;  he  enjoys  the  luxury  of  doing  good-— 
he  feels  most  truly  that  "  it  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive." 

"  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained  ; 
"  It  droppeth  as  the  gentle  rain  from  heaven 
"  Upon  the  place  beneath.     It  is  twice  blessed  ; 
"  It  blesseth  him  who  gives,  and  him  who  takes, 
"  'Tis  mightiest  in  the  mightiest  ;  it  becomes 
"  The  throned  monarch  belter  than  his  crown." 

We  admire,  and  very  justly  too,  the  surprising  con- 
descension, the  tender  compassion,  the  heroic  cour- 
age, and  the  consummate  skill  of  the  Emperor  of  all 
the  Russias,  in  risking  his  life  for  the  sake  of  a  few 
poor  men — but  what  is  this  compared  with  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  "  Jesus  .?"  The  Emperor 
lost  nothing  of  his  dignity  in  doing  what  he  did  ;  he 
laid  aside  none  of  his  titles  ;  he  assumed  not  a  lower 
rank  ;  in  the  boat,  among  the  waves,  and  on  the 
shoal,  he  was  still  an  Emperor.  But  Jesus  laid  his 
glory  hy ;  the  glory  that  he  had  with  the  raiht'i  be. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  247 

fore  the  world  was  ;  the  glory  resultmg  from  creative 
power  ;  the  glory  of  guiding  the  armies  of  earth  and 
heaven  ;  the  glory  of  eternity.  "  He  emptied  him- 
self," "  he  made  himself  of  no  reputation."  The 
master  becomes  a  slave  ;  the  king  becomes  a  sub- 
ject ;  the  maker  of  worlds  becomes  a  creature  ;  the 
God  becomes  a  worm  !  How  surprising  this  conde- 
scension ;  how  wonderful  this  humility  : 

"  Bound  every  heart  and  every  bosom  bum." 
And  O,  with  what  tender  compassion  Jesus  pitied  us, 
as  he  saw  us  exposed  to  the  gulph  of  eternal  death  ! 
In  the  depths  of  our  misery  he  exclaimed,  "  Behold  ! 
I  come,"  and  immediately  hastened  to  our  relief.  O 
how  he  weeps,  groans,  prays,  and  dies  for  us,  and  for 
our  salvation  !  He  pities  our  ignorance — he  groans 
for  our  unbelief — he  weeps  for  the  hardness  of  our 
heart — he  dies  for  our  guilt. 

What  heroic  courage  He  displays  in  woi-king  out 
our  deliverance  !  How  he  grapples  with  the  powers 
of  darkness  !  How  he  triumphs  over  temptation, 
poverty,  and  shame  !  How  he  conquers  principal- 
ities and  thrones,  making  a  show  of  them  openly  ! 
He  wrests  fi'om  death  his  dreadful  sting,  proves  vic- 
torious over  the  grave,  and  opens  the  gates  of  Para- 
dise to  all  believers.  What  divine  wisdom,  also.  He 
manifests  in  the  work  of  redemption  ;  in  securing  to 
man  his  liberty,  and  to  God  his  glory.  How  skillfully 
the  Saviour  confutes  all  the  sophistry  of  the  devil ; 
how  wonderfully  he  answers  all  the  cavils  of  his  ad- 
versaries. How,  by  his  questions,  does  he  take  the 
wise  in  their  own  craftiness  !  His  laws  fill  with  admi- 
ration the  hearts  of  his  worshippers.  How  skillfully 
he  guides  his  followers  through  the  rocks  and  shoals 
of  temptation  and  sin,  and  lands  them  Kiifely  on  the 
banks  of  deliverance.  "  Verily  he  hath  done  all 
things  welL"     Halleliyah  ! 


218  RELIGIOUS    ALLE00BIE8. 

But  for  whom  did  the  Saviour  labor  and  suffer  1 
Peter  risked  his  life  for  mortals  like  himself;  Jesus 
jiave  his  for  beings  infinitely  beneath  him.  Peter 
f(>r  his  own  soldiers,  Jesus  for  those  who  were  ar. 
rayed  under  the  banner  of  his  great  foe  ;  Peter  for 
his  own  subjects,  Jesus  for  the  subjects  of  another 
kingdom  ;  Peter  rescued  merely  his  friends,  Jesus 
died  for  the  salvation  of  his  enemies.  Herein  is 
love,  "  God  commendeth  Hj's  love  toward  us  in  that 
while  we  w-ere  yet  sinners,"  consequently  enemies, 
"  Christ  died  for  us." 

In  the  case  before  us — one  rather  of  contrast  than 
comparison — we  see  the  men,  re-spirited  by  the  pres- 
ence of  their  Emperor,  come  to  save  them,  labor 
with  all  their  might ;  had  they  not  done  so,  they 
could  not  have  been  saved,  notwithstanding  all  the 
skill,  power,  and  good  will  of  their  Prince.  But  we, 
alas  !  stupid  and  ignorant  as  we  are,  when  our  De- 
liverer comes  to  our  aid,  are  found  questioning  his 
skill,  denying  his  power,  and  disbelieving  his  kind 
intentions  ;  instead  of  working  "  out  our  own  salva- 
tion," with  fear  and  trembling,  while  he  works  in  us, 
helping  us  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure. 

Those  who  were  saved  from  death  by  the  philan- 
thropic Emperor,  showered  upon  him  every  demon- 
stration of  gratitude  ;  they  invoked  eternal  blessings 
on  his  head,  and  devoted  their  lives  to  his  service  ; 
and  shall  not  we  be  grateful  to  oiu:  Spiritual  deliv- 
erer ?  His  name  ought  to  be  to  us  above  every 
name.  His  name  Salvation  is  ;  to  the  man  that  be- 
lieves, Christ  is  precious — he  meditates  upon  his 
wondrous  love,  upon  his  unparalleled  condescension, 
upon  his  heroic  courage,  upon  his  tender  compassion, 
and  upon  his  divine  wisdom,  until  the  fire  of  grate, 
ful  emotion  burns  within  him,  and  he  presents  himself 
a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable  before  the 
I-oad,  saying — 


KELIGIOCS    ALLEGORIES.  249 

*  "Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 
That  were  an  offering  far  too  small ; 
Love  so  amazing  !  so  divine  ! 
Demands  my  life,  my  soul,  my  all." 

And  he  devotes  himself  accordingly  to  the  service  of 
his  King  and  SaWour.  As  a  good  subject,  he  will 
obey  His  laws,  and  seek  to  promote  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  his  kingdom  ;  as  a  good  soldier,  he  will 
follow  his  Captain  through  every  danger,  and  every 
death,  and  having  gained  the  victory,  he  will  ground 
his  arms  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  so  be  ever  with  the  Lord. 


The  following  is  a  noble  instance  of  genuine  philanthropy, 
where  a  person  risked  and  actually  lost  his  life  for  the  salvation 
of  others  : — A  Dutch  East  Indiaman  was  wrecked  in  a  terri- 
ble tempest  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  the  sailors  were 
every  instant  perishing  for  want  of  assistance.  An  old  man, 
named  Woltemad,  by  birth  an  European,  and  who  was  at  thia 
time  a  resident  of  an  island  off  the  coast,  heard  the  lamenta- 
tions of  the  distressed  crew  and  hastened  to  their  relief.  The 
noble  Dutchman  borrowed  a  horse  and  proceeded  to  the  wreck, 
with  a  view  of  saving  at  least  some  of  their  number  ;  he  re- 
turned safe  with  two  of  the  unfortunate  sufferers,  and  repeated 
this  dangerous  trip  six  times,  each  time  bringing  with  him  two 
men,  and  thus  saved  in  all  fourteen  persons.  The  horse  was 
by  this  time  so  much  exhausted,  that  the  man  did  not  think  it 
prudent  to  venture  out  again  ;  but  the  entreaties  of  the  poor  suf- 
ferers increasing,  he  ventured  one  trip  more,  which  proved  so 
unfortunate  that  he  lost  his  own  life  ;  for  on  this  occasion  too 
many  rushed  upon  him  at  once,  some  catching  hold  of  the 
horse's  tail,  and  others  of  the  bridle,  by  which  means  the  horse, 
wearied  out,  and  too  heavily  laden,  was  overwhelmed  by  the 
billows,  and  all  drowned  together.  The  East  India  Company 
impressed  with  so  noble  an  instance  of  philanthropy,  ordered  a 
monument  to  be  erected  to  his  memory. 


250 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


Therefore  let  ua  not  tUep,  at  do  others ;  but  let  us  vxuch  and  bt  $obar.- 
*  1  Thefl.  V.  6. 

THE  WINTRY  ATMOSPHERE. 

The  icy  mountains  here  lift  up  on  high 
Their  barren  peaks,  toward  the  arctic  sky  ; 
Terrific  regions,  where  grim  Winter  reigns, 
And  bends  the  whirlwind  in  his  frosty  chains. 
All  life  has  fled,  save  where  the  shaggy  beast 
Prowls  with  intent  on  human  blood  to  feast ; 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  251 

*Ti8  nature's  tomb  ;  no  living  voice  is  heard, 

Of  mumiuring  brook,  nor  cheerful  warbling  bird 

No  iedfy  tree,  nor  Emiiing  fields  of  green, 

Nor  corn  luxuriant  waving,  here  is  seen. 

In  this  cold  clime  some  mariners  are  found, — 

Two,  froze  to  death,  lie  stretched  upon  the  ground  ; 

Others,  more  wise,  to  keep  themselves  awake, 

They  leap  and  shout,  and  strive  tlieir  friends  to  wake. 

One  plies  the  rod — yet  fiom  all  anger  free — 

To  rouse  his  neighbor  from  his  lethargy  ; 

Death  of  his  prey,  while  thus  engaged,  he  cheats, 

And  finds  himself  revive  the  more  he  beats. 

These  work  and  live,  although  the  conflict's  sore. 

The  rest  they  slumber  and  awake  no  more. 

Here  we  have  a  picture  of  the  Polar  regions;  the 
accumulating  masses  of  ice  raise  to  the  sky  their 
snowy  summits.  The  formation,  perhaps,  of  future 
icebergs.  Here  Winter  sits  securely  upon  his  throne 
of  desolation.  Unmolested  by  the  Solar  King,  he 
sways  his  icy  scepter.  The  very  winds  are  hushed 
to  silence  by  his  power  ;  a  desolate  and  terrible  re- 
gion. It  is  the  sheeted  sepulcher  of  Nature  deceased. 
No  signs  of  life  are  seen,  except  the  Polar  beast, 
fitted  for  his  dreary  abode.  No  sound  of  rippling 
brook,  nor  voice  of  joyous  bird  echoes  through  the 
icy  cliffs.  To  bless  the  eye,  no  leafy  forests  wave 
to  the  breeze.  No  cheerful  fields  of  living  green 
appear.  To  bless  the  heart,  no  rising  corn,  the  all- 
sustaining  food  of  man,  bends  with  its  weight  of 
wealth.  In  this  inhospitable  climate,  man,  if  he 
possess  not  a  stout  heart,  soon  dies.  A  drowsiness 
steals  over  him.  He  feels  a  very  great  inclination 
to  lay  down,  then  cold  chills,  throughout  his  life's 
blood,  slowly  creep.  He  sinks  into  a  lethargy  from 
which  he  never  more  awakes. 

in  the  picture  are  seen  a  few  mariners  who  are 
thrown  into  this  unfriendly  climate.  Two  of  them, 
in  consequence  of  giving  way  to  their  drowsy  feel- 


253 BELIOIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

ings,  have  fallen  asleep.  It  is  the  slumber  of  the 
grave.  The  others,  aware  of  the  deadly  influence 
of  intense  cold,  exert  themselves  to  keep  it  off.  They 
leap  about  and  cry  aloud.  They  are  alarmed  for 
their  companions.  They  strive  to  arouse  them  from 
their  dangerous  sleep.  One  perceiving  his  friend  to 
have  some  signs  of  life  in  him,  procures  a  rod ;  he 
lays  it  on  unsparingly ;  he  finds  himself  benefitted  by 
the  exercise  ;  he  continues  it ;  he  is  successful ;  he 
saves  the  life  of  his  friend  ;  they  continue  actively 
employed  until  deliverance  appears.  Thus,  then  lives 
are  preserved.  The  rest,  cast  into  the  deep  sleep  of 
death,  are  left  to  the  beasts  of  prey. 

The  wintry  atmosphere  represents  that  spiritual  de- 
clension that  too  frequently  happens.  Piety  is  in 
danger  of  freezing  to  death.  The  church  has  gone 
too  far  north.  The  thermometer  of  holiness  has 
sunk  almost  to  zero.  The  sun  of  righteousness  casts 
but  a  few  feeble  flickering  rays  athwart  the  gloom 
profound.  Fearful  state  indeed  !  The  stillness  of 
spiritual  death  prevails.  The  shaggy  one  alone  is 
alive  and  active.  "  He  goeth  about  as  a  roaring  lion 
seeking  whom  he  may  devour."  The  voice  of  prayer 
is  hushed.  No  joyful  hallelujahs  break  the  monotony 
of  the  awful  solitude.  Doctrine  and  discipline  are 
neglected.  Even  the  all-sustaining  word  of  God  is 
forsaken.  Melancholy  position  !  She  will  soon  be- 
come a  mere  iceberg,  dashing  herself  and  others  into 
oblivion.  It  has  sometimes  occurred,  that  by  the 
faithful  prayers  and  active  labors  of  one  saint,  the 
church  has  been  brought  out  of  the  wintry  atmos- 
phere, and  been  saved.  This  one  living  disciple 
brings  the  whole  church  to  Jesus,  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness,  and  keeps  her  there  by  faith,  until  the 
whole  tide  of  His  rays  fall  full  upon  her.  Her  frozen 
heart  now  begins  to  thaw ;  soon  it  melts  into  peni-  > 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  253 

tence  and  love;  now  the  voice  of  prayer  breaks  forth 
as  the  morning ;  the  song  of  praise  again  mounts 
upwards ;  God's  house  is  filled  with  worshippers ; 
ministers  are  clothed  with  salvation  ;  converts  are 
multiplied,  and  the  sons  of  God  shout  aloud  for  joy. 

The  wintry  atmosphere  may  furthennore  denote  the 
condition  of  individual  Christians  when  thrown  into 
he  society  of  the  wicked,  when  compelled  in  the 
order  of  providence  to  dwell  in  the  "tents  of  Kedar." 
In  the  absence  of  the  genial  influences  of  religious 
ordinances,  the  freezing  influences  of  ungodly  princi- 
ples and  practices  prevail.  Infidelity  itself  may  per- 
haps lift  up  its  daring  front,  and  defy  the  God  of  the 
armies  of  Israel  :  deny  the  inspiration  of  the  sacred 
page,  and  laugh  the  Christian  to  scorn  as  a  weak  en- 
thusiast.  If  unwatchful,  the  professor  will  at  first  fall 
a  prey  to  the  stupor  of  indiflerence.  Then  the  chilling 
influence  of  sin  will  creep  over  him  ;  the  life's  blood 
of  his  piety  is  arrested  in  its  course  ;  heart  and  in- 
tellect  are  benumbed  ;  Faith,  Hope  and  Love  are 
now  but  indistinct  images  of  the  past.  He  is  in 
danger  of  spiritual  death. 

As  in  the  engraving,  we  see  one  arousing  his  com- 
panions with  a  rod  or  stick,  so  the  Christian  should 
endeavor  to  awaken  his  brother  when  he  sees  him 
falling  beneath  the  influence  of  a  wicked  atmosphere. 
He  may  possess  more  Christian  experience,  or  more 
spiritual  understanding  :  he  has  a  stronger  taith,  or  is 
better  acquainted  with  the  wiles  of  the  devil  ;  these 
are  so  many  gifts  or  graces,  that  he  is  in  duty  bound 
to  exert  for  the  salvation  of  his  brother  ;  hence  he  is 
to  exhort  and  admonish  him  with  all  long-suflering 
and  faithfulness.  If  this  fails,  he  is  to  reprove,  nay, 
to  "  rebuke  him  sharply,"  and  in  no  wise  to  sutler 
sin  upon  his  brother.  Though  it  may  seem  harsh, 
yet  he  is  to  persevere  as  long  as  any  signs  of  lite  re- 


/ 

254  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

main,  lest  he  perish  for  whom  Christ  died ;  he  will 
tell  him  of  the  danger  to  which  he  exposes  his  im- 
mortal soul,  of  the  reproach  he  will  bring  upon  reli- 
gion  if  he  falls  into  sin,  of  the  wounds  he  will  again 
inflict  upon  the  sacred  heart  of  Jesus  ;  that  he  will 
cover  heaven  with  sackcloth,  and  make  hell  echo 
with  exultations  of  fiendish  delight — he  will  not  spare 
ill  order  to  arouse  him  from  his  slumber.  With  the 
hammer  of  God's  word  he  will  strike  him,  with  the 
sword  of  God's  Spirit  he  will  pierce  him,  and  with 
the  tliel  of  God's  love,  he  will  enkindle  a  fire  round 
about  him.  He  is  successful — soon  the  sleeper 
moves — he  melts — he  weeps — he  prays  ;  in  his  grat- 
itude he  exclaims,  "  Let  the  righteous  smite  me,  it  is 
an  excellent  oil  unto  me,"  faithful  are  the  wounds  of 
a  friend  !  Thus  the  active  Christian,  by  his  perse- 
verance, under  God,  saves  a  soul  from  death,  and 
hides  a  multitude  of  sins. 

Most  beneficial,  also,  has  the  exercise  been  to  him- 
self; it  has  proved  the  means  of  his  own  safety;  by 
it  he  has  been  kept  watchful  and  prayerful ;  his  gifts 
and  graces  have  been  strengthened  ;  the  more  he  la- 
bored for  his  brother,  the  more  he  was  blessed  in  his 
own  soul.  So  true  is  the  promise,  "  He  that  water- 
eth  others,  shall  be  watered  also  himself." 

The  Wintry  Atmos'phere  is  such  a  dangerous  re- 
gion that  the  Almighty  himself  becomes,  as  it  were, 
alarmed  for  the  safety  of  his  children,  when  he  sees 
them  exposed  to  its  influence  ;  he  uses  the  rod  of  cor- 
rection in  order  to  keep  them  awake — he  uses  it  in 
love — whom  he  loveth  he  chasteneth.  Woe  !  woe  ! 
unto  us,  when  He  commands  the  ministers  of  afflic- 
tion to  "let  us  alone."  Poverty,  reproach,  sickness 
and  death,  are  employed  by  our  heavenly  Father  as 
instruments  of  correction — yet  they  are  blessings  in 
disguise.     He  gives  us  poverty  in  time,  that  we  may 


RELIGIOUS    ALLESORIES.  255 

be  invested  with  the  riches  of  eternity  : — reproach, 
that  we  may  receive  the  plaudits  of  the  King  Eter- 
nal ; — sickness  of  body  that  the  soul  may  flourish  in 
immortal  health  : — Death,  to  usher  us  into  Life,  into 
his  immediate  presence,  that  where  He  is  there  we 
may  be  also.  God's  children  have  borne  witness  in 
time,  and  they  will  bear  witness  to  all  eternity,  "That 
it  was  good  for  them  to  have  been  afflicted." 

"Long  unafflicted,  undiaraayed  , 
In  pleasure's  path  secure  I  strayed  ; 
Thou  mad'.-t  me  feel  the  chastening  rod. 
And  straight  I  turned  unto  my  God, 
What  though  it  pierced  my  fainting  heart, 
I  blessed  the  hand  that  caused  the  smart, 
I  taught  my  tears  awhile  to  flow. 
But  saved  me  from  eternal  woe." 


"  In  sable  cincture,  shadows  vast, 
Deep-tinged  and  damp,  and  congregated  clouds, 
And  all  the  vapory  turbulence  of  heaven, 
Involve  the  face  of  things.     Thus  winter  falls, 
A  heavy  gloom  oppres-ive  o'er  the  world. 
Through  Nature  shedding  influence  malign.** 
"  Ocean  itself  no  longer  can  resist 
The  binding  fury  ;  but,  in  all  its  rage 
Of  tempest  taken  by  the  boundless  frost. 
Is  many  a  fathom  to  the  bottom  chained, 
And  bid  to  roar  no  more  :— -a  bleak  expanse, 
Shagged  o'er  with  wavy  rocks,  cheerless  and  void 
Of  every  life,  that  from  tne  dreary  months 
Flies  conscious  southward.     Miserable  they  ! 
Who,  here  entangled  in  the  gathering  ice. 
Take  their  last  look  of  the  descending  sun  ; 
"WTiile,  full  of  death,  and  fierce  with  ten-fold  frost. 
The  long  long  night,  incumbent  o'er  their  heads, 
Falls  horrible." — Thompson. 


256 


in:Lir,ior>    AM.Ei;oitlE3l 


JVw  Jiaith  the  Lord  will  be  ....  a  waU  of  fire  round  about. 
THE  PROTECTED  TRAVELER. 


Zec.ii.& 


'Tis  nitfht, — the  Traveler  with  labor  spent, 
Ben-atti  the  forest's  shade  has  pi  tehee'  his  tent  ; 
He  and  his  household  soon  are  fast  asleep, 
Their  toilsome  journey  makes  their  slumbers  deep* 
Above  their  heads  the  stars  are  glowing  bright, 
Like  diamonds  sparkling  on  the  breast  of  night; 
This  is  the  signal  for  the  savage  beast 
To  roam  the  forest  for  his  bloody  feast ; 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  257 

Leopards  and  lions  round  the  tent  now  prcwl. 
And  wake  the  woodland  with  their  fearful  howl ; 
The  Traveler,  startled  at  the  dreadful  sound, 
A  blazing  fire  soon  kindles  all  around  ; 
The  monsters  see  it,  and  with  horrid  roar. 
Rush  through  the  thicket  and  appear  no  more. 

As  when  Elisha,  'mid  the  Syrian  band, 
Saw  sword  and  spear  arrayed  on  every  hand, 
In  gracious  answer  to  the  prophet's  prayer, 
AngeUc  banners  flashed  upon  the  air  ; 
Jehovah's  armies  round  about  him  came 
"With  burning  chariots  and  steeds  of  flame; 
The  fiery  seraphs  circled  all  his  path. 
And  kept  him  safely  from  the  Syrian's  wrath. 

In  these  days  of  emigration,  multitudes  are  contin- 
ually leaving  the  homes  of  their  fathers  for  distant 
climes.  The  populous  cities  of  the  old  world  are 
traversed  ;  the  broad  blue  ocean  is  traversed  ;  the  vast 
forests  of  the  new  world  are  traversed,  in  order  to  find 
a  home  of  peace  and  plenty.  The  engraving  shows 
a  family  tended  and  guarded  for  the  night.  The  trav- 
elers,  weary  with  the  day's  journey,  seek  a  commo- 
dious place  whereon  to  pitch  their  tent.  The  sun 
already  begins  to  sink  below  the  horizon  ;  the  shad- 
ows lengthen,  and  night,  silent  and  majestic,  assumes 
her  empire  over  the  earth.  Stars  ot  glittering  beauty 
bespangle  her  bosom  and  reflect  their  brilliancy  on 
the  broad  leaves  of  the  forest.  The  travelers  retire 
to  rest ;  wooed  by  fatigue,  "  balmy  sleep"  soon  lights 
upon  their  eyelids  ;  their  slumbers  are  deep  ;  but 
they  are  soon  to  be  disturbed  ;  night  gives  the  signal 
for  the  beasts  of  prey  to  come  forth  from  their  dens  ; 
hungry  and  thirsty  for  blood  they  come  ;  roaming, 
ravening,  and  roaring  they  come  ;  the  woods  echo 
their  fearful  bowlings  ;  they  scent  out  the  travelers  ; 
they  surround  the  tent ;  they  clamor  loudly  for  its 
inmates  ;  dreadful  is  the  confusion  ;  the  beasts  growl 
and  fight  with  each  other,  that  each  might  have  the 


258  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

prey  to  himself — the  travelers  awake  in  trembling 
distress.  One  of  them  has  heard  of  the  effect  of  fire 
upon  wild  beasts;  while  they  are  quarrelling,  he 
♦juickly  lights  his  brand,  puts  it  to  some  dry  leaves, 
and  kindles  a  blaze  ;  to  this  he  adds  more  fuel,  nor 
ceases  heaping  it  on  till  he  has  encircled  the  tent 
with  flames.  His  eflbrts  are  successful;  the  wild 
beasts  are  now  affrighted,  and  roaring  dreadfully  with 
fear  and  rage,  they  rush  impetuously  through  the 
ti'ees,  and  come  near  the  tent  no  more. 

The  preservation  of  the  traveler  from  the  fury  of 
the  wild  beasts  by  means  of  fire,  represents  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Christian  from  the  attacks  of  Satan 
and  his  helpers,  by  the  Almighty.  Among  the  Jews, 
and  many  other  ancient  nations,  fire  was  regarded  as 
emblematical  of  the  Deity,  and  indeed  not  without 
reason,  for  on  several  well  authenticated  instances  did 
the  Almighty  manifest  himself  under  the  appearance 
of  fire.  Moses  was  summoned  before  a  court  of  fire 
to  receive  his  commission  as  deliverer  of  Israel.  God 
was  in  the  fire.  In  their  flight  from  Egypt,  and  after 
travels  in  the  desert,  the  Israelites  were  guided  by  a 
column  of  fire.  Their  salvation  and  the  Egyptians' 
overthrow,  for  Jf  novah  was  there.  In  his  reception 
of  the  sacrifices  and  prayers  of  his  people,  God  an- 
swered by  fire.  When  He  gave  his  law  upon  the 
terrible  Mount,  he  spake  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire. 
And  when  long  after  he  would  re-publish  his  law  to 
all  nations,  the  commission  of  the  Apostles  as  the 
deliverers  of  the  world,  was  crowned  with  fire,  God 
was  with  them,  and  to  be  with  them  to  the  end  of 
the  world. 

The  Christian  is  a  traveler;  he  is  traveling  through 
the  wilderness  of  this  world  ;  he  will  pass  through 
it  only  once  ;  in  whatever  part  of  the  wilderness  he 
pitches  his  tent,  he  is  safe  from  all  the  open  attacks 


RELIGIOVS    ALLKQOKIES, 


259 


of  his  foes  ;  his  faith,  love  and  obedience,  secure  to 
him  the  protection  of  the  Ahnighty.  He  is  holy  in 
heart  and  life  :  holiness  tends  to  God's  glory,  and 
upon  "  the  glory  there  is  a  defence  ;"  this  is  the  glory 
that  dwells  in  the  midst  of  him.  and  where  this  is, 
there  will  be  also  "  the  wall  of  fire  roimd  about." 
The  celestial  fire  burning  between  the  Cherubiiri  in 
the  Jewish  temple,  but  shadowed  forth  him  in  whose 
heart  Christ  dwells  by  faith, — the  living  "  temple  of 
the  Holy  Spirit." 

Since  his  expulsion  from  the  realms  of  light,  the 
Devil  has  hated  with  perfect  hatred  every  symbol  of 
Jehovah's  presence  and  glory  ;  he  hates  the  liglit — 
he  is  the  prince  of  darkness — he  is  the  great  extin- 
guisher, putting  out  the  light  of  truth  and  holiness  as 
often  as  he  can  effect  it ;  he  thought  to  extinguish 
the  "  Light  of  the  World,"  by  nailing  it  to  a  tree, 
but  in  so  doing  he  only  broke  into  pieces  the  vase 
that  contained  it,  causing  it  to  shine  forth  with  biil- 
liancy,  and  to  fill  the  whole  earth  with  glory. 

The  great  adversary  is  spoken  of  as  ''"  going  about" 
the  world  as  a  roaring  lion  "  seeking  whom  he  may 
devour ;"  once,  when  prowling  about  en  this  wise,  he 
met  with  one  of  the  saints  of  God,  whom  he  desired 
to  worr}'  and  devour,  but  behold  !  there  was  a  hedge 
of  burning  bushes  all  around  him.  In  vain  he  tried 
to  get  at  him  ;  though  used  to  fire,  he  could  not  stand 
the  fire  of  love  and  holiness — he  knew  very  well  too, 
that  no  one  could  put  out  this  fire,  demolish  this 
burner,  except  the  man  himself.  Satan  is  permitted 
to  tempt ;  he  lays  his  plots  with  hellish  ingenuity  ;  he 
executes  them  with  cruelty  worthy  of  a  devil  ;  to  de- 
stroy this  man  of  God,  he  called  into  his  service  the 
pestilence,  the  sword,  the  tornado,  and  the  lightning. 
The  lightning  came  and  did  its  work — the  sword 
came  and  did  its  work — the  pestilence  came  and  did 
33 


260  RELIGIOUR    Al,LE(;ORIE8. 

its  work — the  tnniaclo  rame  and  did  its  work, — yet 
the  man  of  God  is  safe  ;  he  lives  in  his  integ^rity  ; 
the  hedge  of  fire  around  him  biirns  higher  and 
brighter,  and  becomes  a  beacon  of  hope  to  all  the 
children  of  men.  The  devil,  discomfited,  leaves  him, 
and  flees  away  to  his  own  place,  because  "  Job 
sinned  not  nor  charged  God  foolishly." 

In  like  manner  every  child  of  God  is  surrounded 
by  a  divine  protection  :  the  servants  of  Satan  are 
just  like  their  master,  they  hate  the  light,  and  him 
that  brings  it ;  but  were  they  to  beset  liim,  as  the 
Assyrian  army  beset  the  prophet  Elisha,  he  would  be 
safe.  The  chariots  of  fire,  and  the  horses  of  fire, 
with  Seraphim  and  Cherubim,  would  encompass  him. 
He  may  lay  him  down  in  peace — a  wall  of  fire  pro- 
tects him,  high  as  heaven,  deeper  than  hell,  wide  as 
eternity — fire  !  fii-e  !  fire  !  formless,  impetuous*  mys- 
terious, and  devouring  fire,  is  his  safeguard  and  trust. 

As  the  traveler  by  building  a  fire  protects  not  him- 
self only,  but  all  who  are  in  the  tent,  so  the  Chris- 
tian, by  his  faith,  love  and  obedience,  secures  tiie 
protection  and  blessing  of  God  upon  all  his  house- 
hold. "  I  will  show  mercy,"  saith  the  Holy  One  of 
Isrcel,  "  unto  thousands  of  generations  of  those  that 
love  me  and  keep  my  commandments  ;"  and  one  who 
had  lived  long  in  the  world,  and  had  seen  much  of  it, 
declared,  "  I  have  never  seen  the  righteous  forsaken, 
nor  his  posterity  begging  breod." 

The  traveler  may  put  out  his  fire  without  water — 
he  can  do  it  by  omitting  to  supply  it  with  fuel,  or  by 
casting  earth  upon  it,  thereby  smothering  it,  and  thus 
expose  himself  and  others  with  him  to  all  the  dan- 
gers of  the  forest.  So  the  Christian  may  extinguish 
the  fire  of  Almighty  protection,  the  light  of  the  Holy 
Spirit ;  he  may  do  so,  too,  without  emplo^nng  the  wa- 
ters  of  ti-ansgression — he  may  do  it  by  withholding 


RELIGIOUS   ALLEGORIES,  261 

the  proper  fuel,  by  "  leaving  off  to  do  good,''  by  neg- 
lecting  the  means  of  gi-ace.  He  may  do  it  by  casting 
earth  upon  it,  by  letting  the  world  gain  the  ascen- 
dancy in  his  heart  and  affections — the  love  of  the 
world  will  put  out  the  fire,  ''  quench  the  Spirit,"  and 
leave  the  man  again  exposed  to  the  malice  of  the 
evil  one. 

In  the  Book  of  the  Prophets  we  read  of  some  who  "  kindle 
a  fire"  and  walk  in  the  light  thereof,  who  yet  "  lie  down  in 
Borrow,"  they  are  not  safe  ;  these  may  be  the  self-righteous — 
the  mere  nominal  professor,  who  builds  a  fire  with  the  wood, 
hay,  and  stubble,  of  his  own  performances  ;  it  lacks  the  heat 
of  love  and  holiness — God  is  not  in  it.  Satan  heeds  it  not — he 
breaks  through  it  as  easily  as  a  lion  through  a  cobweb,  and 
seizes  upon  the  defenceless  sinner  for  a  prey. 

Of  others  it  is  said  that  they  "  encompass  themselves  about 
with  sparks"  merely  ;  this  may  mean  those  who  esteem  them- 
selves good  enough  already,  good  naturally — hence  they  have 
no  need  of  performances  of  any  kind.  The  man  of  this  class 
neglects,  as  useless,  the  light  of  truth,  and  faith,  and  the  fire 
of  love;  he  can  dispense  with  Bible,  Priest  and  Temple  ;  he 
lies  down  in  peril — the  devil  don't  mind  a  few  imparks. 

It  was  a  custom  among  the  ancient  highlanders  of  Scotland, 
when  ihey  would  arouse  the  people  for  any  great  purpose,  to 
send  throughout  the  land  a  cross  dipped  in  blood  ;  wherever 
the  cross  was  received,  there  the  people  immediately  kindled  a 
blazing  fire,  hence  it  was  called  "  the  Fire  Cross."  The  blood- 
stained Cross  of  Christ  has  been  sent  and  is  now  going  through- 
out the  world  ;  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  sent,  the  greatest  of 
all  achievements  ;  wherever  it  is  received,  a  fire  is  kindled 
amid  the  surrounding  darkness.  The  fire  of  a  Saviour's  love, 
the  fire  of  Almighty  power, 

"  Jesus'  love  the  nation's  fires, 
"  Sets  the  kingdoms  in  a  blaze." 

Hasten  !  O  hasten  !  ye  who  bear  the  cross,  ye  ministers  of 
his  that  do  his  pleasure  !  carry  round  "  the  Cross,"  until  a  fire 
shall  be  kindled  every  where,  and  the  whole  earth  be  filled 
with  the  glory  of  God. 


262 


UKLlorolS    ALLEGORIES. 


Fvr  ye  are  bought  vith  a  priu.—l  Cur.  vi.  20.     Those  thai  seek  me  miHf 
shall  jind  ww:.— I'rov.  viii.  17. 

THE  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE. 

Behold,  the  slave  with  joyful  beaming  eyes, 
Holds  up  to  view  his  glorious  glittering  prize  ; 
A  pearl,  more  precious  than  it.<=  weight  in  gold  ; 
The  price  of  Freedom,  and  of  bliss  untold: 
The  prince  who  promised  the  giiPf vicious  meed, 
From  his  rich  palace  haatena  down  with  spe^d ; 


RELIGIOUS    Al.LV.OO'.limS.  263 

With  his  own  hand — unroU'.fl  thai  all  may  see — 
The  title-deed  presents  of  -Liberty. 
The  slave  may  enter  now  that  mansion  fair, 
A  slave  no  longer,  but  a  rightful  heir. 

So  when  the  dinner  by  Apoliyon  bound. 
The  priceless  pearl  of  Gospel  grnce  has  found; 
■  He  breaks  his  chains,  and  into  Freedom  i?pringg, 
No  more  a  slave,  he  ranks  with  pries:s  and  kmgs  ; 
By  the  great  Lord  of  Ail,  to  him  't  Is  given. 
To  be  his  child  on  earth,  and  heir  m  heaven. 

A  CERTAIN  Princo,  desirous  of  acloniing  his  coro- 
net with  a  pearl  of  the  greatest  value,  promises  Lib- 
erty to  any  one  of  his  slaves  ^^■ho  shall  find  one  of  a 
certain  number  of  carats;  the  Prince  owns,  upon  his 
manor,  a  "  Fishery,"  where  the  slaves,  at  proper  sea- 
sons of  the  year,  dive  for  pearls.  The  usual  mode 
of  opei-ation  is  as  follows  :  The  divers,  throwing  off 
their  clothes,  dress  themselves  in  complete  suits  of 
white  cotton ;  this  is  to  protect  their  bodies  from  the 
contact  of  the  medusae,  or  sea-netlles  ;  then,  each 
diver  letting  himself  over  the  side  of  the  boat,  places 
his  feet  upon  a  stone,  which  is  held  by  the  seibor,  or 
puller  up.  On  his  left  arm  he  carries  a  small  basket 
to  hold  the  oysters  he  may  collect — (the  pearl  is 
found  in  the  fleshy  part,  near  the  joint  of  the  shell) — 
then  closing  his  nostrils  with  a  piece  of  elastic  horn, 
he  gives  the  signal  with  his  arm,  and  is  immediately 
lowered  down  ;  the  stone  enables  him  to  sink  with- 
out difficulty.  Here,  in  a  period  varying  from  thirty 
to  a  hundred  seconds,  he  employs  himself  in  filling 
his  basket ;  as  soon  as  this  is  done,  or  if  he  wants 
breath,  he  jerks  the  rope,  and  is  immediately  hauled 
to  the  surface. 

In  the  engraving  is  seen  the  fortunate  slave,  who 
has  secured  the  prize  ;  as  soon  as  he  discovers  hig 
good  fortime,  forsaking  boat  and  basket,  he  leaps 
overboard  and  makes  toward  the  shore,  exclaiming 


264  RELIGIOUS  ALLEGORIES. 

"  I've  found  it !  I've  found  it !"  Others  shout  with 
hira  ;  the  Prince,  his  master,  hears  the  tumult,  and 
learning  the  cause,  repairs  without  delay  to  the  bank 
of  the  river,  to  receive  the  pearl,  and  to  bestow 
on  the  finder  the  promised  reward — where,  in  the 
presence  of  all,  he  reads  his  deed  of  manumission, 
and  proclaims  him  free.  And  he  is  free — his  head, 
and  heart,  and  hands,  are  now  his  own ;  he  is  now 
free. 

Happy  man ;  Liberty,  fair  sister  of  Piety,  has 
stooped  upon  the  wing  to  oless  him  ;  nor  is  this  all — 
he  is  free  to  call  his  former  master  Ahha,  that  is, 
father,  and  his  mistress,  Imma,  that  is,  mother ;  he 
is,  according  to  custom,  adopted  as  a  son — his  future 
path  is  irradiated  with  knowledge,  wisdom,  and  hap- 
piness. 

By  the  slave  finding  the  costly  pearl,  and  obtain- 
ing thereby  his  liberty,  is  signified  the  sinner,  who 
finds  "the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,"  or  who,  in  other 
words,  experiences  religion  ;  this  .  puts  him  into  pos- 
session of  a  liberty  more  precious  than  gold,  and 
more  to  be  desired  than  fine  gold : — 

A  liberty  unsung 
By  Poets,  and  by  Senators  unpraised  ; 
Which  monarchs  cannot  grant,  nor  all  the  power* 
Of  earth  and  hell  confederate,  take  away  : 
A  liberty  which  persecution,  fraud. 
Oppression,  prisons,  have  no  power  to  bind  ; 
Which,  who  so  tastes,  will  be  enslaved  no  more. 

This  is  the  liberty  of  Gospel  salvation  ;  a  sinner 
is  a  slave — a  slave  not  to  one  master,  but  to  many, 
who  exercise  over  him  a  cruel  despotism.  Satan 
takes  the  lead  in  tyrannizing  over  him ;  it  is  true  he 
U  a  willing  slave,  but  not  the  less  a  slave  for  that. 


RKLIGlOrS    ALLEGHRIES. 


265 


for  let  him  but  try  to  free  hTrnselT  from  his  power, 
and  he  at  once  feels  that  he  is  bound  ;  Satan  is  his 
lord  and  master,  he  says  to  him  "  go,  and  he  goeth, 
come,  and  he  cometh,  do  this,  and  he  doeth  it."  He 
is  a  captive,  led  about  just  as  the  devil  pleases.  Mis- 
erable bondage  !  Sin  has  dominion  over  him,  for- 
bidden objects  control  his  passions,  and  his  passions 
control  his  will ;  he  is  enslaved  to  the  law  of  sin,  he 
is  chained  to  "  this  body  of  death."  Sin  wields  over 
him  its  scepter  with  despotic  sway,  "  he  is  sold  under 
sin  ;"  even  when  he  would  do  good,  evil  is  present 
with  him.  Again,  he  is  a  slave  to  the  terrors  of  the 
law  ;  mount  Sinai  still  stands,  giving  forth  its  dread- 
ful voice  of  many  thunders,  and  emitting  its  flashes 
of  devouring  fire  ;  he  stands  quaking  and  trembling 
beneath  its  fearful  brow.  He  is  also  '*  subject  to 
bondage  through  fear  of  death  ;"  although  he  may 
make  a  show  of  courage,  when  among  his  guilty 
companions,  over  the  bottle,  or  in  the  battle-field, 
yet  he  dreads  his  approach  ;  his  very  image  embit- 
ters his  sweetest  pleasure,  and  makes  him  miserable. 
These  are  some  of  the  lords  that  exercise  dominion 
over  the  poor  sinner  ;  verily  he  is  bound  ! 

The  King  of  Holiness  otfers  liberty  to  the  sinner, 
on  condition  that  he  exercise  "  repentance  toward 
God,  and  faith  in  Jesus  Christ ;"  thus  runs  the  pro- 
clamation. The  slave  who  found  the  pearl  was  obe- 
dient ;  what  did  he  know  at  first  about  pearls  ?  he 
might  have  argued,  with  himself  at  least,  that  it  wa3 
impossible  that  such  uncouth,  muddy  oysters,  could 
contain  such  priceless  gf'ms.  and  so  have  given  up 
the  idia,  and  with  it  freedom  ;  but  he  sought  in  the 
manner  prescribed,  and  found — thus  his  obedience 
secured  an  ample  reward. 

Salvation  is  found  only  liy  those  who  seek  aright. 
That  the   sinner  might  not  lose  his  labor,  the  Al- 


260  HELI6IOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

mighty  Lord  tells  him  where  it  may  be  found  ;  he  tells 
him  to  look  for  it  in  His  word,  in  his  house  and  or- 
dinances ;  he  tells  him  hoiv  he  is  to  conduct  the 
search — he  is  to  lay  aside  his  self-righteousness  and 
put  on  sackcloth  ;  he  is  to  descend  into  the  depths  of 
humility,  and  there,  by  earnest,  persevering  prayer, 
and  living  faith,  to  seek  until  he  finds — and  the  prom- 
ise is,  "  If  thou  seekest  her  as  silver,  and  searches! 
for  her  as  for  hid  treasure,  then  shalt  thou  understand 
the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find  the  knowledge  of  God." 

But  who  shall  describe  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
children  of  God.  Satan  reigns  and  tyrannizes  over 
them  no  longer ;  his  chain  is  broken,  his  allegiance 
is  renounced  ;  he  is  no  longer  the  proud  conqueror, 
leading  his  captive  in  chains  ;  he  lies  bruised  be- 
neath the  Christian's  f?ct — he  may  threaten,  but  he 
cannot  harm ;   he  may  tempt,  but  he  cannot  compel. 

He  who  finds  gospel  freedom  is  delivered  from  the 
dominion  of  sin  ;  his  understanding  is  now  enlight- 
ened, the  darkness  of  ignorance  has  passed,  the  true 
light  now  shines  ;  his  mind  is  now  free — free  to  do 
good.  He  takes  pleasure  in  righteousness.  "  O,"  he 
exclaims,  "  how  I  love  thy  law  !"  Henceforth  the 
testimonies  of  Jehovah  are  the  songs  of  his  rejoicing 
in  the  house  of  his  pilgrimage  ;  in  him  the  promise 
is  fulfilled,  "  Sin  shall  not  have  dominion  over  you." 

From  the  curse  of  the  law,  moreover,  he  is  fi-ee 
Jesus  has  been  made  a  curse  for  him — there  is,  there 
fore,  now  no  condemnation  ;  for  him  the  fires  of  Si- 
nai no  longer  burn  ;  Jesus  has  quenched  them  with 
his  blood — for  him  its  voice  of  many  thunders  is  for 
ever  hushed — Jesus  has  whispered,  "  peace,  be  still." 
Death  has  now  for  him  no  more  terrors — Death  is  a 
vanquished  enemy,  he  is  numbered  among  his  gains. 
Why  should  he  fear  who  has  beheld  "  the  burst  gates 
— the  demolished  throne — the  crushed  sting — the  last 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  267 

gasp  of  vanquished  death  ?"  Thanks  be  unto  God, 
who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

O,  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God ! 
The  siave  has  become  a  son  ;  he  may  now  call  God 
Abba,  Father,  and  the  church  Imma,  Mother  ;  he  is 
now  an  heir  of  God  and  fellow-heir  with  Jesus 
Christ — he  receives  a  clear  title-deed  to  mansions  in 
the  skies.     Heaven  for  him 

Opens  wide 
Her  ever-during  gate?,  harmonious  sound 
On  golden  hinges  turning. 

He  is  now  free  to  see  the  king  in  his  beauty,  to  see 
Him  as  he  is  who  loved  him  and  gave  himself  for 
him — to  hold  converse  with  angels  and  archangels, 
with  all  the  holy,  and  the  wise.  "  Glorious  liberty" 
indeed  !  wondrous  freedom  !  he  is  free  to  explore  the 
regions  of  immortality  and  love  ;  and  as  the  years  of 
interminable  duration  roll  onward,  he  will  live  yet 
more  free. 


All  hail,  triumphant  Lord, 
Who  sav'st  us  with  thy  blood : 
Wide  be  thy  name  ador'd, 
Thou  rising,  reigning  God, 
With  thee  we  rise, 
With  thee  we  reign, 
And  empires  gain 
Beyond  the  slues." 

34 


3G3 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


Blessed  are  your  eyes  for  they  see.    Matt.  xiii.  16.     A7id  to  know  tlie  love  (ff 
Christ  which  passeth  knoKledge.    Eph.  iii.  19. 

THE  GREAT  DISCOVERY. 

When  brave  Balboa  gained  the  mountain's  height, 

A  glorious  prospect  burst  upon  his  eight ; 

The  great  Pacific  stretched  before  him  lies, 

And  fills  with  new  delight  his  ravished  eyes ; 

O  sight  sublime  !     It  meets  the  distant  sky, 

The  Bplendid  image  of  eternity. 

H«  gazes  on  that  sea,  his  hope  of  old. 


Mi'LiGiiiin   ALi  •  i;orvii:s.  "^69 

Whose  waters  wander  by  the  realms  of  gold  ; 
Visions  of  wealth  and  glory  fill  his  mind, 
And  he  forgets  the  toils  he  left  behind. 
The  dream  is  realized  !  that  dream  sublime. 
That  bore  him  onward  through  each  deadly  clime 
O'er  burning  mountains  and  o'er  stormy  main, 
Through  death  and  danger,  far  from  ancient  Spain, 
His  bursting  heart  adores  that  mighty  Power 
That  brought  him  safely  to  behold  this  hour ; 
He  prostrate  falls,  his  grateful  homage  pays. 
And  to  the  God  of  heaven  devoutly  prays. 

Abov^e  is  portrayed  the  great  di.-covery  ot'  the  Pa- 
cific Ocean,  made  by  Balboa,  a  Spanish  Cavalier. 
Balboa  had  for  some  time  settled  down  in  Hispaniola. 
Here  he  cultivated  a  farm,  but  hearing  of  an  expe- 
dition that  was  about  to  set  out  for  the  west,  he  de- 
termined to  join  it.  He  was  greatly  in  debt,  and  the 
governor  had  issued  a  proclamation  forbidding  debtors 
to  leave  the  Island.  Balboa,  however,  was  resolved 
to  go.  He  caused  himself  to  be  rolled  on  board  of 
one  of  the  vessels  in  a  cask.  He  did  not  make  his 
appearance  until  the  ship  was  far  out  to  sea.  The 
commander  at  first  threatens  to  send  him  back — but 
the  ship  pursued  her  way.  He  quickly  rose  into  fa- 
vor ;  became  governor  of  the  colony  planted  at  the 
Isthmus,  and  distinguished  himself  by  the  talents  of 
command.  Rumors  of  the  o;olden  country  still  farther 
westward  continued  to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  Span- 
iards. Distance,  disease,  mountains  covered  with 
eternal  snows,  and  oceans  tossed  by  perpetual  storms, 
could  no  longer  restrain  them.  Balboa  took  the  lead 
of  the  expedition  and  pushed  on  to  conquest.  Many 
of  the  Indian  tribes  are  to  be  conquered.  These 
brave  but  defenseless  warriors  soon  fall  before  the 
arms  of  the  Spaniards,  who,  the  more  blood  they 
shed,  the  more  they  thirst  for  gold.  An  alliance  is 
formed  with  a  powerful  Cacique,  who  sends  Balboa 


270  HELIOTOUS    ALLF.OORIES. 

a  rich  present  in  gold  and  slaves.  On  the  daring 
Spaniard  leads  his  soldiors.  Indian  tribes  are  con- 
quered, mountain  difficulties  are  passed,  and  burning, 
sickly  regions  traversed.  Now  the  moment  is  at 
hand  when  he  is  to  be  more  than  recompensed  for 
all  his  labors.  The  misty  summits  of  the  hills  rise 
before  him.  One  of  these  is  pointed  out  to  him  as 
the  object  of  his  search.  He  commands  his  troops  to 
halt.  He  himself  ascends  alone,  with  his  drawn 
sword.  Having  reached  the  top,  he  casts  his  eyoa 
round  ;  the  Pacific  spreads  out  before  him  ;  imbued 
with  the  religion  of  his  country,  he  falls  on  his  knees 
weeping,  and  offers  thanks  to  God  for  permitting  him 
to  see  this  glorious  sight.  On  his  return  to  Darien, 
the  whole  population  poured  forth  to  meet  him.  They 
hailed  him  as  the  glory  of  Spain  ;  as  the  gift  of 
heaven  sent  to  guide  them  into  the  possession  of  hon- 
ors and  riches  incalculable. 

The  Pacific  Ocean,  and  its  discovery  by  the  bold 
Spaniard,  may  serve  to  illustrate  the  ocean  of  God's 
love,  and  the  joyful  feelings  of  him  who,  for  the  first 
time,  discovers  it.  The  sinner  is  settled  down  in  his 
sins ;  he  is  employed  in  cultivating  Satan's  husbandry ; 
"  he  is  sowing  to  the  flesh."  He  hears  of  a  revival 
of  religion,  of  an. expedition  heavenward  ;  he  is  de- 
termined to  join  it ;  he  is  in  debt ;  dead  in  trespasses 
and  in  sins.  Satan,  his  governor,  will  not  permit 
him  to  quit.  He  hedges  up  his  way  round  about  him. 
He  is  however  resolved  to  join  the  expedition  that  is 
bound  for  Heaven.  By  a  violent  effort  he  escapes  and 
joins  the  converts.  He  is  decided  ;  he  seeks  ear- 
nestly the  salvation  of  his  soul  ;  his  way  is  now  beset 
with  difficulties  ;  enemies  appear  on  every  hand  to  im- 
pede his  progress  ;  his  old  companions  com^  to  entice 
him  ;  his  old  sins  come  to  tempt  him,  and  his  old  mas- 
ter sirides  before  him  the  whole  breadth  of  the  way 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  271 

He  now  strengthens  his  alliances  with  the  children 
of  God.  He  receives  sometimes  some  gracious  to- 
kens of  the  divine  favor ;  he  is  encouraged  to  per- 
severe ;  on  he  goes,  weeping — praying — wrestling — 
fighting.  His  old  companions  are  silenced  ;  his  sins 
no  longer  have  dominion  over  him,  and  Satan  falls 
like  lightning  from  heaven.  Now  the  time  of  triumph 
is  near,  when  he  will  be  more  than  paid  for  all  he 
has  endured.  His  heavenly  guide  directs  him  to  the 
object  of  his  inquiries.  He  ascends  alone  the 
mount — the  sacred  moupt  of  Calvary.  He  casts  his 
eyes  around  :  the  peaceful  ocean  of  Almighty  love 
spreads  out  before  him  ;  there  it  lays,  covering  all 
time  and  extending  to  eternity ;  immense — bound- 
less— overwhelming. 

When  this  Almighty  sea  of  love 
His  rising  soul  surveys, 

Transported  with  the  view,  he's  lost 
In  wonder,  love,  and  praise. 

All  is  peaceful,  above — below — within — around. 
He  has  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
A  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding  fills  his 
breast.  He  is  at  peace  with  man  and  beast.  It  is 
as  the  opening  of  the  gate  of  heaven  to  his  soul.  An 
immense  region  of  truth,  divine  truth,  is  laid  bare  to 
his  view.  A  new  and  heavenly  light  flashes  over  his 
mind.  Old  things  have  passed  away,  and  all  things 
have  become  new. 

On  this  mount  of  vision  he  discovers  that  God  is 
Love  ;  not  only  lovely  and  loving,  but  Love ;  nothing 
but  love.  In  his  nature  and  operations  love  ;  pure, 
unexampled  love.  Here  he  beholds  the  Son  of 
God  ;  the  maker  of  earth  ;  the  well  beloved  of  heaven, 
suffering  and  dying  for  him — for  all — for  a  world  of 
sinners.  For  the  foulest  of  the  foul.  He  dies.  He 
beholds  with  astonishment  the   tokens  of  his  love. 


273  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

Earth  is  suddenly  arrested  in  her  retrograde  motion, 
and  rolled  back  again  to  God.  Strange  darkness 
covers  the  world,  that  all  might  henceforth  be  light 
forever ;  the  opened  sepulchres  proclaim  life  and  im- 
mortality. Here  he  beholds  a  new  and  living  way 
cast  up  ;  a  high  way  fr<jm  earth  to  heaven,  and 
countlei^s  multitudes  leaving  behind  them  the  badges 
of  their  guilt,  pollution,  and  wretchedness,  and  washed 
and  clothed  in  the  robes  of  salvation,  ascend  thereon. 
Forward  they  go,  each  one  walking  in  his  upright- 
ness. A  cloud  overshadows  them  for  a  little  while, — 
that  is  death.  Soon  they  ascend  toward  the  gates 
of  the  heavenly  city.  Now  the  golden  portals  are 
lifted  up,  and  the  children  of  glory  enter  in.  A  mul- 
titude that  none  can  number  are  thus  ransomed  from 
hell  and  the  grave,  and  all  through  the  love  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus.  Behold  what  manner  of  love  is 
this,  that  the  Father  has  bestowed  on  us,  that  we 
should  be  called  the  sons  of  God.  Well  might  the 
rapt  poet  sing — 

I  rode  on  the  sky. 

Freely  justified  I, 
Nor  envied  Elijah  his  seat ; 

My  soul  mounted  higher. 

In  a  chariot  of  fire, 
And  the  moon  it  was  under  my  feet. 

An  indifferent  spectator  walking  far  beneath  Bal- 
boa, seeing  him  prostrate  on  the  mount,  and  with 
uplifted  hands  offering  his  thanksgiving,  might  have 
laughed  him  to  scorn  for  a  madman,  or  have  pitied 
him  for  his  weakness.  He  may  not  have  been  so 
high.  He  knows  not  that  the  ocean  exists.  He  per- 
haps denies  its  existence  altogether.  Thus  it  often 
happens  to  the  man  of  the  world  when  he  sees  con- 
verts  having  tasted  that  the  Loi-d  is  gracious,  give 
vent  to  thorr  feelings  in  a  lively  manner  ;  or  when 


BELFGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  273 

he  hears  experienced  Christians  discourse  on  the  love 
of  God,  it  is  foolishness  to  him.  He  considers  the 
persons  so  acting,  to  be  ''beside  themselves,"  or  very 
weak  minded.  He  may  perhaps  deny  altogether  the 
existence  of  vital  godliness  and  religious  experience  , 
yet  if  the  skeptic  would  but  "  come  and  see"  for 
himself,  he  would  confess  that  "  the  half  was  not  told 
him." 

In  order  to  make  his  great  discovery,  Balboa  had 
to  rise  above  the  world.  So  it  behooves  him  who 
would  discover  the  great  pacific  of  eternal  love,  to 
rise  above  sublunary  things  ;  especially  must  he  sur- 
mount the  fogs  of  prejudice,  the  mists  of  ignorance, 
and  the  clouds  of  unbelief  which  surround  the  smface 
of  the  earth. 

Having  made  his  discovery,  the  Spaniard  waa  at  once  re- 
warded with  honor  and  glory.  He  looked  upon  the  past  with 
contempt,  as  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  splendor  that 
awaited  him.  So  he  feels  who  realizes  that  God  is  love.  He 
is  clad  with  the  "  Best  Robe."  He  looks  with  disgust  on  the 
past.  He  hates  the  vain  pomps  and  glories  of  the  earth  ;  is  as- 
tonished at  his  infatuation,  in  being  so  taken  up  with  them  ; 
and  yet  what  he  now  possesses  is  but  as  the  drop  lo  the  teem- 
ing shower.     The  wealth  of  eternity  av/aits  him. 

Balboa  could  not  explore  his  vast  prize.  Had  he  traversed 
the  ocean  till  this  time,  he  would  have  gone  over  only  a  small 
portion  of  it ;  much  of  it  he  would  never  see.  Realms  of  gold 
lay  gUttering  upon  its  placid  margin.  Mines  of  wealth  lay 
hidden  beneath  its  purple  wave.  He  had  but  found  the  key  of 
this  magazine  of  wealth.  So  the  discoverer  of  Almighty  love 
can  know  but  little  of  his  precious  prize  while  here  below. 
Boundless — fathomless — endless,  it  spreads  out  before  him,  and 
will  ever  spread.  Here  he  merely  sips  of  its  overflowings. 
He  has  but  discovered  the  key  of  this  treasure-house  of  love. 
0  the  depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
God! 


274 


RELIOIOCS    ALLEGORIES. 


ITuy  teanaered  in  deserts. — Ileb.  xi.  38.     For  here  ice  have  no  cot 
city,  but  seek  one  to  come. — Heb.  xiii.  14. 

PASSAGE  THROUGH  THE  DESERT. 

Amid  the  arid  desert's  burning  sands, 

The  Caravan  proceeds,  in  various  bands ; 

Jew,  Frank,  and  Mussulman,  in  search  of  gaillf 

Unite  to  traverse  the  destructive  plain. 

The  desert  drear,  more  terrible  to  brave, 

Than  fiirioua  tempest,  on  the  ocean  wave : 


BELIGIOrS    ALLEGORIES.  275 

The  sky  a  molten  dome  of  quiv'ring  heat ; 
The  earth  a  farnace,  glows  beneath  the  feet ; 
The  wild  waste  echoes  as  they  move  along, 
With  laugh  of  humorous  tale,  or  Toice  of  song. 
Armed,  and  united,  they  no  danger  fear 
From  lion  prowlirng,  nor  from  robber's  spear ; 
But  other  foes  oft-times  'gainst  them  advance, 
More  to  be  dreaded  than  the  Arab's  lance  : 
The  sandy  column,  and  sirocco's  blast. 
Laden  with  certain  death,  come  rushing  past. 
Down  straight  they  fall,  flat  on  their  faces  lie, 
While  the  destraying  angel  passes  by  ; 
Through  varied  dangers,  thus  their  way  they  wend. 
Until  at  length  they  reach  their  journey's  end. 

Here  is  represented  the  passage  of  a  caravan 
through  the  great  and  terrible  desert  of  Africa.  Mer- 
chants being  desirous  of  visiting  the  interior  parts  of 
Africa,  for  the  sake  of  trading  with  the  natives,  form 
themselves  into  companies  for  this  purpose.  Here 
may  be  seen  Arabs,  Jews,  Franks,  and  others,  uni- 
ting for  a  common  end,  regardless  of  the  differences 
of  countiy  and  of  creed  ;  they  hire  a  certain  number 
of  camels,  with  their  drivers — they  lay  in  their  stock 
of  goods,  provisions,  etc. ;  they  furnish  themselves 
with  a  compass,  and  with  arms  for  defense.  When 
all  is  prepared,  the  signal  for  departure  is  given,  and 
the  caravan  moves  onward ;  by  degrees  they  leave 
all  traces  of  the  living  world  behind  them — soon 
they  come  in  sight  of  the  desert — evening  now  casts 
its  shadows  round  them — they  find  a  stopping  place ; 
here  they  rest  for  the  night.  In  the  morning  they 
commence  the  perilous  route  :  in  a  short  time,  noth- 
ing is  beheld  by  the  travelers  but  one  vast  ocean  of 
sand,  bounded  only  by  the  horizon ;  as  they  move  on 
the  heat  becomes  intense — the  sky  appears  like  a 
dome  of  molten  fire — the  earth  glows  like  a  furnace 
beneath  their  feet ;  a  momentary  gloom  overspreads 
the  faces  of  the  travelers  as  they  see  scattered  here 
35 


27C  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOKIE8. 

and  there  upon  the  sand,  skeletons,  the  remains  of  for- 
mer travelers.  They  shorten  the  distance  by  rehears- 
ing taxes  of  wit  and  humor.  Sometimes  the  desert 
rings  with  the  sound  of  their  merry  songs, — they 
trust  to  the  guides  for  direction,  and  to  the  guards  for 
safety ;  being  well  armed  they  fear  nothing.  Some- 
times, while  yet  on  the  border,  the  lion  of  the  desert 
appears  ;  he  sees  them  united  and  watchful — he  dare 
not  attack  them — he  lashes  his  sides  with  his  furious 
tail,  and  with  a  dreadful  roar  he  bounds  out  of  sight. 
Sometimes  the  Arab  robbers,  who  think  they  have 
an  hereditary  right  to  plunder  travelers,  attack  the 
caravan — they  meet  with  a  stout  resistance,  and  find- 
ing themselves  worsted,  they  quickly  disappear  amid 
clouds  of  dust  and  sand. 

Other  enemies,  however,  frequently  appear,  that 
laugh  to  scorn  their  might  of  union,  and  hold'in  de- 
rision the  shaking  of  the  glittering  spear ;  the  pesti- 
lential simoom,  with  the  speed  of  thought,  comes 
rushing  on  towards  them,  and  unless  they  fall  instantly 
upon  their  faces  and  hold  their  breath,  they  are  all 
dead  men.  Sometimes  they  behold  huge  pillars  of 
sand  before  them,  the  sun  gleaming  through  them, 
giving  them  the  appearance  of  pyramids  on  fire — 
each  one  is  large  enough  to  bury  the  caravan  ;  now 
they  move  towards  them  with  fearful  rapidity — now 
they  take  another  direction.  The  wind  shifts,  and 
dashing  against  each  other,  they  vanish  in  a  storm  of 
sand.  Sometimes  the  caravan  is  refreshed  by  meet- 
ing with  a  fertile  spot  called  an  oasis — here  is  seen 
the  grassy  plain,  the  flowing  fountain  ; — here  is  heard 
the  voice  of  singing  birds  ;  here  the  palm,  the  vine, 
and  the  olive  tree  abound.  New  spirited,  the  cara- 
van resumes  its  journey,  and  in  good  time  reaches 
the  place  of  its  destination. 

The  passage  through  the  desert  may  be  consid- 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  277 

ered  as  an  allegorical  representation  of  the  passage 
of  the  church  of  Christ  through  the  moral  desert  of 
this  world.  The  church  is  in  quest  of  eternal  gain. 
She  seeks  a  city  which  is  out  of  sight ;  "  the  New 
Jerusalem."  The  way  thereto  is  through  a  moral 
desert,  which  is  destitute  of^every  heavenly  plant. 
No  living  stream  flows  through  the  midst  thereof. 
No  food  for  the  soul  is  there  ;  no  provision  for  im- 
mortality. Above,  around,  beneath,  the  elements 
are,  in  themselves  considered,  unfriendly  to  spiritual 
life  and  spiritual  progress.  Hence  the  church  fur- 
nishes herself  with  provisions, — Christ,  and  the  word 
of  Christ  ;  her  compass,  the  law  of  Jehovah  ;  her 
weapons,  the  whole  armor  of  God  ;  her  watchmen 
and  guides,  the  ministers  of  Jesus, 

The  caravan  was  exposed  to  danger  and  death 
fron>the  lion — the  robber — the  moving  sands,  and 
the  fell  simoom.  The  church,  too,  has  her  dangers  to 
contend  against.  No  sooner  does  she  commence  her 
march,  than  Abaddon,  the  destroyer,  comes  out  against 
her.  If  he  sees  her  united,  moving  on  firmly,  and 
watchful  withal,  she  is  safe,  and  he  knows  it.  He 
gnashes  his  teeth  with  rage,  and  looks  about  for  more 
defenseless  prey.  Woe,  woe  to  the  straggler  he  may 
meet  with  in  his  wrath, — to  him  who  through  indo- 
lence has  lingered  behind,  or  through  pride  thinks 
he  can  take  care  of  himself, — he  falls  a  victim  to  his 
temerity.  His  fate  becomes  a  monument  of  warning 
unto  others.  Next  she  is  assailed  by  the  disciples  of 
ancient  heresies.  These  come  forth  against  her  with 
their  rights  of  prescription  and  of  proscription.  They 
advance  "  damnable  doctrines,"  and  seek  to  plunder 
her  of  her  heaven-born  treasures.  But  the  church 
is  armed,  thoroughly  armed.  The  efficient  panoply, 
"  the  whole  armor  of  God"  is  round  about  her.  The 
sword  of  the   Lord  and  of  Gideon  prevails,  and  the 


\ 


278  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

spoilers  vanquished,  retire  amid  the  dust  of  their  own 
confusion.  But  other  foes  sometimes  appear,  more 
dangerous  than  Satan  undisguised.  Splendid  images 
of  idolatry  present  themselves,  glittering  with  the 
gilded  pageantry  of  pompous  ceremonies  ;  imposi- 
tions of  unrighteous  pj:erogative.  Their  tops  reach 
the  very  heavens.  They  move  to  and  fro,  threaten- 
ing to  overwhelm  the  church  beneath  their  crushing 
weight.  She  looks  on  awhile  in  astonishment  at 
such  heaven-daring  impiety.  She  stands  firm  ;  she 
is  girt  about  with  truth.  With  a  loud  voice  she  gives 
utterance  to  her  faith, — "  Jehovah,  he  is  the  God  ! 
Jehovah,  he  is  the  God  !"  The  sandy  fabrics  disap- 
pear like  the  moving  columns  of  the  desert. 

Sometimes,  as  a  last  resort  of  fiendish  malice,  the 
simoom  of  persecution  is  let  loose  upon  her.  Earth 
and  hell  combine.  The  kings  of  the  earth  set  them- 
selves, and  the  rulers  take  counsel  together,  saying, 
"  Let  us  break  their  bands  asunder,  and  cast  away 
their  cords  from  us."  The  watchword  is,  "  destroy, 
destroy,"  and  the  whole  power  of  the  enemy  is  hurled 
against  the  Lord's  anointed.  Her  ordinary  weapons 
of  defense  are  here  of  no  avail.  She  has  recourse 
to  "  all  prayer."  She  falls  down  low  in  the  dust.  In 
God  is  all  her  trust.  He  is  her  help  and  her  shield. 
She  hides  herself  in  Him  until  this  "  calamity  be 
overpast."  In  every  conflict  she  comes  off* victorious, 
as  long  as  she  continues  united  and  watchful. 

Sometimes  the  church  is  favored  with  extraordi- 
nary manifestations  of  divine  power  and  love  ;  these 
are  to  her  as  an  oasis  in  the  desert.  The  river  that 
makes  glad  the  city  of  God  pours  its  full  streams  into 
the  midst  of  her.  She  enjoys  a  glorious  revival  ;  it 
is  a  foretaste  of  heaven.  She  arises  and  puts  on 
strength.  MuUitudes  are  added  unto  her.  Clothed 
with  salvation,  she  again  moves  onward  in  all  the 


RELIGIOUS    ALLE GOBIES.  J79 

power  of  truth,  and  in  the  majesty  of  holiness,  clear 
as  the  sun,  fair  as  the  moon,  and  glorious  as  an  army 
with  banners.  Above  her  waves  triumphant  the 
banner  of  Redemption,  Taking  up  the  song  of 
prophecy  as  she  advances,  she  sings — 

In  the  wilderness  shall  burst  ftrth  waters, 
And  torrents  in  the  desert  ; 
And  the  glowing  sand  shall  become  a  pool ; 
The  desert  and  the  waste  shall  be  glad, 
And  the  wilderness  shall  rejoice  and  flourish, 
Like  the  rose  shall  it  beautifully  flourish. 

Thus  she  goes  forward  from  strength  to  strength, 
scattering  in  her  path  a  new  creation,  until  mercy's 
triumphs  are  complete,  and  God  is  all  in  all. 


Lord,  what  a  wretched  land  is  this. 

That  yields  us  no  supply  ; 
No  cheering  fruits,  no  wholesome  trees» 

Nor  streams  of  living  joy ! 

Yet  the  dear  path  to  thine  abode 

Lies  through  this  weary  land  ; 
Lord  !  we  would  keep  that  heavenly  road. 

And  run  at  thy  command. 

Our  souls  shall  tread  the  desert  throng 

With  undiverted  feet  ; 
And  faith  and  flaming  zeal  subdue 

The  terrors  that  we  meet. 

A  thousand  savage  beasts  of  prey 

Around  the  desert  roam  ; 
But  Judah's  Hon  guards  the  way, 

And  guides  the  pilgrims  home. 

Through  simoom  blasts,  with  gloomy  fears 

We  trace  the  sacred  road  ; 
Through  lonely  wastes  and  dangerous  snares 

We  make  our  way  to  God. 


260 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


He  luopcth  up  riches  and  knownh  not  who  shall  gather  them. — Pa. 
6.     7'At'  covttous,  whom  the  Lord  ahhorreth.—  Va.  x.  3. 


SELFISHNESS. 

Look  at  the  selfish  man !     See  how  he  locks 
Tight  in  his  arms  his  mortgages  and  stocks  I 
While  deeds  and  titles  in  his  hands  he  grasps. 
And  gold  and  silver  close  around  him  clasps. 
But  not  content  with  this,  behind  he  drags 
A  cart  well  laden  with  the  pondrous  bags  ; 
The  orpJianv'  wailini^s  and  th'>  widoie's  woe. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  281 

From  mercy's  fountain  cause  no  tears  to  flow ; 
He  pours  no  cordial  in  the  wounds  of  pain. 
Unlocks  no  prison,  and  unclasps  no  chain  ; 
His  heart  is  like  the  rock  where  sun  nor  dew 
Can  rear  one  plant  or  flower  of  heavenly  hue. 
No  thought  of  mercy  there  may  have  its  birth. 
For  helpless  misery  or  sufiering  worth  ; 
The  end  of  all  his  life  is  paltry  pelf, 
And  all  his  thoughts  are  centered  on — himself , 
The  wretch  of  both  worlds;  for  so  mean  a  sum, 
"  First  starved  in  this,  then  damned  in  that  to  come" 

Here  is  a  poor  fool  "  crouching  beneath"  more 
than  "  two  burdens."  Look  at  him !  see  how  he 
pants,  and  heaves,  and  groans  beneath  his  load.  With 
his  right  hand  he  grasps  a  large  bag  of  gold  and  sil- 
ver, together  with  bonds,  titles,  deeds  and  mortgages. 
In  his  left  he  clutches  fast,  stocks  and  pledges,  while 
suspended  to  his  left  shoulder  dangles  interest  upon 
interest.  Around  his  waist  is  buckled  a  leathern 
girdle,  to  which  a  wagon  is  attached  by  means  of 
traces.  This  is  loaded  with  bags  and  bales  of  rich  an- 
nuities. He  appears  to  have  made  "  a  clean  sweep" 
wherever  he  has  been  ;  desolation  follows  in  his  train. 
On  the  left  hand  of  this  receiver-general,  stands  a 
female,  accompanied  by  two  children.  Look  at  them. 
They  have  come  through  the  peltings  of  a  winter's 
storm,  poorly  clad  as  they  are,  to  lighten  the  poor 
man's  load.  They  have  nothing  to  carry.  See  ! 
they  are  beseeching  him  to  allow  them  to  bear  part 
of  his  burden.  It  would  help  them  somewhat ;  it 
would  circulate  the  blood,  and  keep  them  warm  ;  it 
would  benefit  him,  however,  a  great  deal  more, — per- 
haps save  his  lite.  He  looks  angry  ;  he  growl-s  at 
them  ;  he  curses  them  in  the  name  of  his  god,  and 
spurns  them  from  his  presence.  The  man  cannot  be 
in  his  right  mind,  surely.  Refusing  assistance,  on 
he  goes  again,  lamenting  very  much  the  time  he  ha« 


282  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

lost,  for  "time"  with  him  "  is  money."  On  he  goes, 
puffing  and  sweating  and  dragging.  At  length,  still 
followed  by  the  woman  and  children,  he  comes  to  a 
bridge  thrown  across  a  river  rolling  rapidly.  It  looks 
quite  safe  ;  as  he  proceeds,  it  bonds  and  cracks  with 
the  weight,  and  just  when  he  arrives  at  the  middle,  it 
gives  way  and  down  he  goes,  bags  and  all ;  he  sinks 
to  the  bottom  like  a  stone.  The  dark  wave  rolls  over 
him  ;  he  dieth  as  a  fool  dieth  ;  his  memory  has  per- 
ished. 

The  above  engraving  represents  Selfishness  refu- 
sing the  claims  of  distressed  humanity.  Perhaps  all 
the  manifestations  of  sin  in  man  may  be  traced  to 
selfishness  as  their  source.  The  warrior  in  his  pursuit 
of  glory  ;  the  politician  in  hunting  for  power  ;  the 
covetous  in  scheming  for  wealth  ;  the  scholar  in  his 
aspirations  for  fame  ;  all  act  from  the  principle  of 
selfishness.  Here  the  selfish  principle  manifests 
itself  in  the  acquisition  of  money  ;  in  keeping  it,  and 
of  course  fixing  the  heart  upon  it  as  an  object  worthy 
to  be  adored.  The  most  High,  looking  down  from 
the  height  of  his  holiness,  pronounces  the  man,  ^^fod." 
Fool  in  so  mistaking  the  true  ends  of  life, — in  so 
mistaking  the  nature  of  things  as  to  think  the  soul 
could  be  satisfied  with  dust  and  con'uption  ;  in  em- 
ploying the  noble  powers  of  the  mind  about  things 
so  base,  mean,  and  contemptible, — in  loving  that 
which  cannot  return  our  love.  Fool,  in  substituting 
the  body  for  the  soul, — time  for  eternity, — the  world 
for  God.  Fool,  to  be  "  bit  by  rage  canine  of  dying 
rich,  guilVs  blunder,  and  the  loudest  laugh  of  hell." 
Fool,  in  heaping  up  riches  and  knowing  not  who  shall 
gather  them.  • 

"  High  built  abundance  heap  on  heap,  for  what  I 
To  breed  new  wants  and  beggar  us  the  more, 
Then  make  a  richer  scramble  for  the  throng, 


EELIGIOLft    ALLEGORIES.  283 

Soon  as  this  feeble  pulse  which  leaps  so  long. 

Almost  by  miracle  is  tired  with  play  ; 

Like  rubbish  from  disploded  engines  thrown, 

Our  magazines  of  hoarded  trifles  fly  ; 

Fly  diverse,  fly  to  foreigners,  to  foes ; 

New  masters  court,  and  call  the  former  fools, — 

How  justly,  for  dependence  on  their  stay. 

Wide  scatter  first  our  playthings,  then  our  dust. 

This  is  bad  enough,  but  what  is  worse,  the  man 
of  selfishness  is  a  man  o?  guilt.,  often  of  deep,  double- 
dyed,  damnable  guilt ;  even  in  its  most  innocent  form, 
selfishness  dethrones  the  blessed  God  from  his  proper 
place  in  the  human  heart.  Selfishness  is  a  rank 
idolator — he  worships  the  creature  more  than  the  Cre- 
ator. "  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me." 
Like  the  horse-leech,  he  is  continually  crying,  give, 
give  ;  he  covets  his  neighbor's  possessions — he  is  de- 
termined to  obtain  them  if  he  can,  either  by  fair 
means  or  by  foul — to  this  end  he  often  bears  false 
witness  against  his  neighbor — nay,  he  will  destroy 
his  reputation,  sometimes  take  his  life. 

He  is  a  devourer  of  widow's  houses  ;  he  forestalls 
and  forecloses  whenever  he  can  gain  by  so  doing. 
Selfishness  is  a  thief — first,  in  withholding  what  be- 
longs  to  God  and  the  poor ;  secondly,  in  actually 
seizing  upon  the  property  of  others.  See  lym  go 
forth  to  take  possession  of  his  neighbor's  farm  or 
house — in  the  face  of  day  he  goes  ;  the  sun  is  look- 
ing at  him,  and  God  is  looking  at  him,  and  the  pro- 
phet of  God  within  his  breast — conscience — remon- 
strates, as  did  the  prophet  Elijah,  when  Ahab  had 
♦gone  down  to  the  vineyard  of  Naboth,  to  take  pos- 
session thereof.  But  selfishness  is  deaf  to  the  voice 
of  the  prophet,  and  the  helpless  family  is  turned  out 
into  the  streets,  and  another  inheritance  is  added  to 
his  rent-roll. 

How  great  is  the  guilt  of  selfishness  ;  by  him  the 


284  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

commandments  of  God  are  all  set  at  nought ;  nay, 
standing  on  the  mountain  of  his  ill-gotten  wealth,  ho 
takes  the  two  tables  of  the  law,  and  breaks  them  to 
pieces,  trampling  the  remnants  beneath  his  feet. 
His  heart  is  ossitied,  callous,  hard  as  the  nether  mill- 
stone ;  the  ministers  of  religion  plead  for  help— he 
regards  it  not ;  the  daughters  of  benevolence  plead 
for  objects  of  charity  all  in  vain  ;  the  weeping 
widow  and  the  wailing  orphan  stand  before  him, 
begging  only  what  will  support  life  a  day — he  spurns 
them  from  his  presence.  He  has  more  than  he 
needs,  or  ever  will  need,  yet — dog  in  the  manger 
like — he  snarls  and  keeps  it  all. 

In  the  map  of  Palestine  may  be  seen  the  Dead 
Sea  ;  several  rivers  pour  their  streams  into  the  midst 
thereof,  and  among  them  the  Joi-dan.  Here  they  are 
all  swallowed  up ;  the  Dead  Sea  gives  nothing  back 
but  bitterness  and  dearth.  It  was  formerly  said  that 
birds  in  their  passage  over  it  dropped  down  dead  ; — 
selfishness  is  a  dead  sea,  receiving  all,  giving  noth- 
ing, save  misery,  and  want,  and  death. 

In  the  engraving,  the  house  in  the  back  ground 
looks  ruined  and  desolate — selfishness  has  been  there. 
It  is  related  of  the  locusts  that  "  the  noise  they  make 
in  browsing  the  plants  and  trees  may  be  heard  at  a 
distance,  like  an  army  plundering  in  secret ;  wherever 
they  march  the  verdure  disappears  from  the  country, 
like  a  curtain  drawn  aside.  The  trees  and  plants, 
despoiled  of  their  leaves,  make  the  hideous  appear- 
ance of  winter  instantly  succeed  the  bright  scenes  of 
spring — fire  seems  to  follow  their  tracks."  Selfish- 
ness may  look  behind  him  if  he  will,  and  see  in  his 
rear  the  same  marks  of  desolation. 

Selfishness  is  a  great  advocate  for  the  protection 
of  his  own  interests ;  he  has  become  rich,  yet  he  is 
not  rich  God-wai'd,     He  has  mortgages,  but  he  him- 


BBLIGIOrS    ALLEGORIES.  285 

self,  alas  !  is  mortsfaged  to  the  devil,  and  when  the 
time  expires,  he  will  foreclose,  and  take  possession. 
He  has  pledges  enough  on  earth,  but  no  pledge  of  a 
future  inheritance  in  heaven.  And  where  !  where  is 
the  hope  of  the  wretch,  though  he  hath  gained,  when 
God  taketh  away  his  soul ! 


'  How  shocking  must  thy  summons  be,  0  Death' 
To  him  that  is  at  ease  in  his  possessions  ; 
Who,  counting  on  long  years  of  pleasures  here. 
Is  quite  unfurnished  for  that  world  to  come  ! 
In  that  dread  moment  how  the  frantic  soul 
Raves  round  the  walls  of  her  clay  tenement; 
Runs  to  each  avenue,  and  shrieks  for  help, 
But  shrieks  in  vain  !     How  wishfully  she  looks 
On  all  she  's  leaving,  now  no  longer  hers  ! 
A  little  longer,  yet  a  little  longer, 
Oh,  might  she  stay,  to  wash  away  her  stains, 
And  fit  her  for  her  passage  !     Mournful  sight! 
Her  very  eyes  weep  blood  ;  and  every  groan 
She  heaves  is  big  with  horror.     But  the  foe. 
Like  a  staunch  murderer,  steady  to  his  purpose, 
Pursues  her  close,  through  every  lane  of  life. 
Nor  misses  once  the  track,  but  presses  on  ; 
Till  forced  at  last  to  the  tremendous  verge> 
At  once  she  sinks  to  everlasting  ruiD." 


286 


liliLlGIOUS    ALLKGOKIKS. 


Ftar  not,  for  J  am  with  thee. — Gen.  xxvi.  24.     I  will  Jfir  no    ^ii 
art  with  vie. — I's.  xxiii.  4. 

THE  IMPERIAL  PASSENGER 

When  the  great  Caesar,  bent  on  high  empris*. 

Beheld  the  winds  and  waves  against  him  rise,  ^ 

The  sea  and  skies  in  wild  commotion  roll, 

To  damp  the  ardor  of  his  mighty  soul ; 

But  wmds  and  waves  in  vain  'gainst  him  engage, 

And  waste  upon  themselves  their  empty  rage  ; 

He  nothing  feora,  he  deems  himself  a  God, 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES,  287 

And  furious  tempe=t3  but  await  his  nod. 
Not  so  the  mariners, — in  sore  dismay 
They  dare  not  venture  from  the  sheltered  bay, 
To  whom  the  chief  their  craven  souls  to  cheer, 
"Who  carries  Caesar,  need  no  danger  fear." 
Awed  into  courage,  soon  they're  on  the  wave, 
And  all  the  fury  of  the  ocean  brave. 

The  above  engraving  represents  Julius  Caesar  in 
a  violent  storm.  He  is  encouraging  the  boatmen  to 
pull  av/ay.  Csesar  and  Pompey  at  this  time  were 
about  to  dispute  the  empire  of  the  world.  The  le- 
gions of  Pompey  were  at  Macedonia.  Those  of  Cae- 
sar lay  at  Brundusium,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river 
Apsus.  Caesar  judging  his  presence  to  be  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  safety  of  his  army,  determined  to 
cross  the  river,  notwithstanding  it  was  guarded  by 
the  ships  of  Pompey.  A  furious  tempest  raged  also 
at  the  same  time.  Depending  upon  his  good  fortune, 
he  disguised  himself,  and  secured  a  small  fishing  bor.t. 
His  mind  occupied  with  the  importance  of  hi^  mission, 
thinks  not  of  danger.  He  has  had  so  many  hair- 
breadth escapes  on  flood  and  field,  that  he  deems  him- 
self under  the  immediate  protection  of  the  gods  ;  nay, 
that  he  himself  possesses  the  power  of  controlling 
fortune.  The  boatmen  think,  however,  very  differ- 
ently. Though  accustomed  to  danger,  they  will  not 
put  to  sea  in  the  present  gale.  Csesar  thinking  all 
would  be  lost,  assumes  a  commanding  attitude,  throws 
off  his  disguise,  and  addressing  the  pilot,  exclaims, 
Quid  times  ?  CcBsarem  vehis.  "  What  do  you  fear  1 
you  carry  Caesar."  The  effect  is  electrical.  Struck 
by  his  courageous  bearing,  the  sailors,  ashamed  of 
their  fears,  immediately  put  to  sea  with  the  intrepid 
chieftain.  They  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost ; 
brave  feaijessly  the  peltings  of  the  storm,  and  land 
their  noble  passenger  safely  on  the  other  side. 

The  above  instance  of  profane  history  may  serve 


286  BELIOIOUB    ▲LLEOOBIE8. 

to  illustrate  the  presence  of  God  with  his  people,  and 

the  confidence  they  should  have  in  him.  The  pres- 
ence and  consequent  power  of  God  exists,  of  course, 
every  where.  We  cannot  tell  where  God  is  not. 
We  see  him  in  the  embattled  host  that  nightly  shines 
in  the  blue  vault  of  heaven  ;  in  the  queen  of  night, 
as  sailing  through  the  sky,  she  gives  to  the  shadowed 
earth  a  look  of  kindred  affection. — When  rosy 
morn  lifts  up  the  curtain  of  darkness  and  gives 
to  our  view  the  glorious  orb  of  day  coming  forth  from 
his  chambers,  rejoicing  as  a  strong  man  to  run  a  race ; 
in  the  vast  mountain,  towering  to  meet  the  skies ;  the 
immense  ocean,  rising  in  the  greatness  of  its  strength ; 
the  embowered  forest,  bending  to  the  breeze  ;  the 
deep  blush  of  the  verdant  mead ;  the  smiles  of  the 
luscious  corn,  and  in  the  laughing  flowers,  we  see 
the  power  and  presence  of  the  Omnipotent.  The 
thunder  proclaims  him  in  the  heavens  ;  the  woodland 
minstrels  among  the  trees  ;  the  mountain  torrent,  and 
the  rippling  brook,  bespeak  his  power  ;  insects  sport- 
ing in  the  sun  beams,  and  leviathan  in  the  depths  of 
the  sea,  alike  show  forth  his  praise.  Magnitude 
cannot  o'erpower  him,  minuteness  escape  him,  or  in- 
tricacy bewilder  him.  He  guides  and  preserves  all 
by  his  presence  and  power. 

"  The  rolling  year 
Is  full  of  Thee.     Forth  in  the  pleasing  tspring 
Thy  beauty  walks,  thy  tenderness  and  love  ; 
Then  comes  thy  glory  in  the  summer  months. 
With  light  and  heat  refulgent.     Then  thy  sun 
Shoots  full  perfection  through  the  swelling  year. 
Thy  bounty  shines  in  autumn  unconfined. 
And  spreads  a  common  feast  for  all  that  lives. 
In  winter,  awful  Thou  !  with  clouds  and  storms 
Around  thee  thrown,  tempest  o'er  tempest  rolled, 
Majestic  darkness  !  on  the  whirlwind's  wing, 
Riding  sublime.     Thou  bid'st  the  world  adore. 
And  humblest  nature  with  thy  northern  blaat," 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  289 

The  presence  of  God  with  his  people  is,  however, 
manifested  in  a  different  manner.  Nature  is  man- 
aged by  subordinate  agents  ;  the  church  by  his  im- 
mediate presence.  Natural  objects  wax  old  and  per- 
ish, as  doth  a  garment ;  yea,  the  elements  will  melt 
with  fervent  heat  ;  the  earth  also,  and  the  works  that 
ire  therein,  shall  be  burned  up  ;  but  of  the  church  it  is 
leclared,  that  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
igainst  it ;  and  of  Chrir^t's  kingdom,  which  is  the 
church,  it  is  said,  thy  kingdom  is  an  everlasting  king- 
dom, and  thy  dominion  without  end.  Hence  to  per- 
petuate the  church,  the  presence  of  God  has  been 
manifested  in  a  peculiar  manner.  In  the  march  of 
the  church  through*  the  ages  of  time  on  toward  eter- 
nity, how  plainly  has  he  shown  his  powerful  presence. 
Is  the  world  through  sin,  covered  with  a  flood  of 
waters,  as  with  a  garment  ? — God  himself  superin- 
tends the  building  of  an  ark,  for  the  salvation  of  his 
infant  church.  Does  famine  threaten  her  with  dc 
struction  ? — He  opens  to  her  wants  the  granaries  of 
Egypt.  Does  the  sea  oppose  her  when  she  would  go 
and  "sacrifice  to  the  Lord  her  God?" — He  divides 
for  her  a  passage  through  the  midst  thereof,  and  she 
goes  through  dry  shod.  Does  she  suffer  hunger  in 
the  desert  ? — He  unlocks  the  store-house  of  heaven 
and  feeds  her  with  angels'  food.  Is  she  thirsty  ? — 
The  very  rocks  are  made  to  yield  streams  of  living 
water.  By  his  presence  her  foes  fall  before  her ; 
Jordan's  waves  roll  backward,  and  Canaan  spreads 
for  her  repast  its  stores  of  milk  and  honey.  "  Happy 
art  thou,  O  Israel  !  Who  is  like  unto  thee,  O  people 
saved  by  the  Lord,  who  is  the  sword  of  thy  excel- 
lency and  the  shield  of  thy  help  ?" 

Nor  has  the  church  been  less  favored  with  the  di- 
vine presence,  since  Jesus  paid  in  full  the  price  of 
her  redemption,  re-modelled  his  temple,  and  adorned 


290  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES,. 

the  sanctuary  with  the  beauty  of  holiness.  When 
we  see  the  Savior  in  the  storm,  on  the  sea  of  Tibe- 
rias, chiding  the  fears  of  his  disciples,  and  stilling  the 
winds  and  the  waves,  we  see  a  type  and  a  promise 
of  his  future  presence  with  his  people.  Emmanuel, 
"  God  with  us  ;"  this  is  his  name  ;  how  full  of  con- 
solation !  with  us  in  his  own  proper  person.  The 
government  is  still  upon  his  shoulders.  "  He  will 
not  give  his  glory  to  another."  He  does  not  rule  by 
proxy.  He  needs  no  "  vicar"  on  the  earth.  His  real 
presence  is  with  his  people.  He  is  fulfilling  his  own 
gracious  promise,  "  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  to 
the  end  of  the  world." 

The  fact  of  being  engaged  in  an  important  enter- 
prise, and  a  consciousness  that  great  results  will  fol- 
low  a  certain  course  of  conduct,  nerves  up  the  soul 
to  action,  and  enables  it  to  do  and  suffer.  When  the 
boatmen  knew  who  it  was  that  said  unto  them,  "Fear 
not,"  knowing  too  that  the  fate  of  nations  depended 
upon  their  conduct,  they  were  inspired  with  energy 
and  courage,  anS  determined  to  sink  or  swim  with 
Caesar.     But  behold  a  greater  than  Caesar  is  here. 

Jesus,  the  Almighty  conqueror,  says  to  his  people, 
*'  Fear  not,  for  I  am  with  youJ'^  In  the  furious  tem. 
pest  that  sometimes  meets  them  in  the  path  of  duty 
when  their  hearts  quail,  and  all  appears  to  be  lost, 
His  glorious  presence  shines  amid  the  darkness. 
"  Fear  not,^^  he  exclaims:,  "  you  carry  Jesus.^^  The 
church,  emboldened  at  the  sight,  dismiss  their  fears, 
receive  a  new  inspiration,  and  in  the  strength  of  a 
living  faith  respond  :  "  Therefore  will  we  not  fear, 
though  the  earth  be  removed  out  of  its  place,  and  the 
mountains  be  cast  into  the  depths  of  the  sea,  for  the 
Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us,  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our 
refuge." 

"  Fear  not,  you  carry  Je^us."     Thou  desponding 


RELI613US    ALLEGORIES.  291 

one,  fear  not.  Does  not  Christ  dwell  in  thy  heart 
by  faith  ?  Is  not  "  Christ  in  you"  the  life  of  faith— 
the  life  of  love — "  the  hope  of  glory  ?"  Is  he  not 
working  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  ?  Then  be 
strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his  might. 
Fear  not,  He  is  thy  shield,  and  thy  exceeding  great 
reward. 

Of  Cyrus  it  is  said,  that  he  knew  his  soldiers, 
every  one  by  name.  But  by  the  Captain  of  your 
salvation,  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  num- 
bered. Unbelief  dims  the  eye  so  that  it  cannot  see 
Jesus.  Faith  opens  it,  and  the  glorious  presence  of 
the  Savior  is  revealed.  Where  the  king  is,  there 
also  is  the  court ;  and  where  the  Savior  is,  there  also 
is  his  court.  His  attendants  are  all  there.  Power 
— majesty — riches  and  glory,  encircle  his  throne. 
Stormy  winds,  lightning  and  thunder,  are  ministers 
of  his  that  do  his  pleasure. 

God  is  with  his  people.  He  is  their  covenant  God. 
Hence  all  his  attributes  are  employed  for  their  good. 
He  cares  for  them.  As  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 
so  he  pities  them  that  fear  him.  He  has  purchased 
them  by  his  own  blood."  They  are  his  "peculiar 
treasure  ;"  "  the  lot  of  his  inheritance."  Therefore 
no  weapon  that  is  formed  against  them  can  prosper. 
To  banish  distrust  forever  from  their  hearts,  he 
pledges  himself  never  to  leave  them,  never  to  for- 
sake them. 

When  thou  passest  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with  thee 
And  through  the  rivers  they  shall  not  overflow  thee  ; 
When  thou  walkest  through  the  fire  thou  shalt  not  be  burned, 
Neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee, 
For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
Thy  Savioe. 

37 


292  RET.TGIOi:?'    ALLEGORIES. 


/ Kill  tj'iist  in  thec—Ts.  hi.  3.     Accordhig  to  your  Faith  be  it  unto  you*' 
Mutt.  ix.  29. 

VENTURING  BY  FAITH. 

Behold  the  flames  in  all  their  fury  roll, 
Raging  and  spreading,  spurning  all  control ; 
Upward  they  shoot  in  many  a  gleaming  spire, 
And  then  rush  downward  in  a  flood  of  fire. 
With  fiercer  heat  the  burning  columns  glow, 
And  soon  the  building  totters  to  and  fro. 


RELIGIOrs    A-LreGORIES.  293 

But  whence  that  scream  that  rings  upon  our  ears? 

In  the  high  casement  see,  a  child  appears  ! 

With  outstretched  arms,  imploring  for  reUef — 

The  crackling  timbers  only  mock  his  grief. 
"  O  Father,  save  I"  in  piteous  tones  he  cries. 

At  length  his  father  hears  him  and  replies, 
"  Fly  to  my  arms,  my  son,  without  delay — 

Fly  ere  the  flames  devour  their  helpless  prey," 

Death  hastes  behind,  Hope  beckons  from  before ; 

He  ventures  freely,  and  his  danger's  o'er. 

"  The  soul  of  an  awakened  sinner,"  says  Dr. 
Coke,  "before  he  ventures  on  Christ  for  salvation, 
may  be  compared  to  a  person  who  is  in  some  of  the 
upper  stories  of  his  house  when  he  learns  that  it  has 
taken  fire,  and  that  all  its  nether  parts  are  so  far  in- 
volved in  flame  as  to  cut  off  his  retreat."  The  en- 
gra^ing  shows  a  young  person  who  has  been  roused 
from  his  midnight  slumbers  by  the  raging  flames 
which  burst  into  the  place  where  he  was  reposing, 
or  perhaps  he  was  awakened  by  the  voice  of  some 
friend,  who  raised  a  warning  cry  from  without.  The 
child,  thoroughly  awakened,  sees  that  if  he  stays 
where  he  is,  he  will  perish  in  the  fl.ames  ;  he  hears 
the  voice  of  his  father — he  flies  to  the  window — he 
sees  the  outstretch e J  arms — he  is  invited  to  leap  or 
cast  himself  from  the  burning  house  ;  the  attempt 
seems  perilous  indeed,  but  having  faith  in  the  word 
of  his  father,  he  takes  the  perilous  leap — he  ventures 
all — he  falls  into  the  hands  of  his  father,  unharmed  ; 
he  is  saved  from  death. 

This  is  a  good  illustration  of  the  act  of  justifying 
Faith.  The  child  in  the  burning  house,  perhaps 
made  several  eflbrts  to  escape  from  the  approaching 
ruin  ;  he  attempts  to  gain  the  door,  but  finding  the 
flames  increase  upon  him,  he  is  obliged  to  give  up  his 
hope  of  escaping  this  way,  and  to  ascend  the  stairs 
before  the  pursuing  fire.     Hi  a  friends  without,  who 


294  nELiGious  allkgories. 

know  his  condition  and  danger,  (pailicularly  his 
father,)  entreat  hira  to  cast  himself  from  the  upper 
window,  as  the  only  means  by  which  his  life  can  be 
preserved. 

The  child  hears  the  earnest  entreaties  of  his  friends 
— hesitates,  attempts,  retires,  approaches  the  window, 
calculates  upon  the  fearful  height,  and  dreads  to 
make  the  effort.  His  understanding  is  convinced 
that  the  fire  will  soon  overtake  and  destroy  him,  yet 
while  the  danger  appears  somewhat  remote,  he 
strangely  lingers  ;  possibly  thinking  there  may  be 
some  other  way  to  escape,  besides  casting  himself 
from  the  window. 

His  friends  again  encourage  him  to  venture  from 
the  window,  assuring  him  that  they  have  provided 
for  his  safety  by  spreading  on  the  ground  the  softest 
materials,  to  break  the  violence  of  his  fall ;  full  of 
hesitation,  he  asks  for  sensible  evidence  ;  they  de- 
sire him  to  look — he  makes  an  effort,  but  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  and  the  injury  his  sight  has  sus- 
tained, only  permit  him  to  view  the  object  of  his 
wishes  obscurely  and  indistinctly.  Belief  and  doubt 
contend  for  the  empire  of  his  mind,  and  by  keeping 
it  in  an  equipoise,  prevent  it  from  making  any  deci- 
sive choice. 

Thus  far  the  situation  of  the  child  resembles  that 
of  the  soul  who  feels  his  need  of  salvation.  The  un- 
derstandings of  both  are  enlightened  ;  the  judgments 
of  both  are  convinced  by  the  force  of  evidence  ;  they 
appear  to  assent  to  the  truths  which  are  proposed  for 
their  belief,  and  still  neither  of  them  has  escaped  to 
the  place  of  safety,  or  city  of  refuge,  which  lies  be- 
fore him.  Both,  however,  have  found  the  way  to  es- 
cape the  impending  ruin  ;  and  to  him  who  thus  spir- 
itually seeks  after  Christ,  it  may  be  said,  thou  art  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  but  still  one  thing  is 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOKIES.  295 

lacking,  that  is,  to  venture  on  the  Savior  for  salva- 
tion. 

Thus  far,  in  the  allegory,  the  child  has  made  no 
effectual  effort  to  escape  from  within  the  burning 
walls  ;  while  lingering  in  his  room,  in  a  state  of  in- 
decision, agonizing  for  deliverance,  without  using  the 
means  of  obtaining  it,  feeling  a  measure  of  confi- 
dence- in  his  friends  below,  but  not  enough  to  venture, 
the  flames  burst  into  his  apartment  and  scorch  him 
in  his  last  retreat.  Alarmed  at  the  immediate  pros- 
pect  of  death,  he  concludes — if  I  remain  here  I  shall 
surely  die,  and  if  I  cast  myself  down  from  the  build- 
ing, I  shall  but  die. 

Fully  impressed  with,  this  truth,  he  once  more  re- 
pairs to  the  window ;  he  pays  more  attention  to  the 
call  of  his  friends,  particularly  to  thart  of  his  father ; 
the  difficulty  now  appeal's  somewhat  less,  and  the 
prospect  of  safety  greater,  than  what  he  before 
imagined.  Encouraged  by  these  favorable  appear- 
ances, as  well  as  driven  by  terror,  he  commits  his 
soul  to  God— he  casts  himself  into  the  arms  of  his 
father  below.  In  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  he  falls  !  he  is  caught  and  embraced  by  bis  fa- 
ther ;  he  finds  every  thing  prepared  for  his  reception, 
as  he  had  been  promised,  and  he  now  feels  himself 
in  a  state  of  safety.  With  tears  of  grateful  joy,  and 
a  heart  overflowing  with  thankfulness  for  his  deliver- 
ance, he  gives  glory  to  God,  and  finds  his  bosom 
filled  with  peace. 

This  is  the  case  of  every  soul  who,  by  faith,  ven- 
tures his  all  on  Christ.  But  who  can  find  words  to 
express  all  that  is  conveyed  by  this  simile  ?  Every 
one  who  has  cast  himself  into  the  arms  of  his  heav- 
enly father  through  the  atoning  sacrifice,  can  feel  it, 
but  adequate  expressions  are  not  to  be  found.  Hu- 
man  language   is  too  poor  to  unfold   in   all   their 


29<^  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

branches,  the  things  of  God,  and  we  are  oflen  under 
the  necessity  of  resorting  to  such  expedients  in  order 
to  find  a  medium  to  communicate  our  thoughts. 

We  see  by  the  allegory  that  no  one  is  in  a  state  of 
safety  till  they  have  actually  ventured  on  Christ  for 
salvation.  The  soul  may  be  convinced  that  there  is 
no  other  way  of  salvation,  but  by  venturing  on 
Christ,  but  unless  it  acts,  and  puts  forth  an  effort, 
there  is  no  salvation.  The  .youth  ♦in  the  burning 
house  may  be  convinced  he  must  leave  it  if  he  would 
save  his  life,  but  he  may,  perhaps,  think  there  is  no 
immediate  danger  if  he  stays  in  the  house  a  little 
longer;  it  will  take  some  time,  he  thinks,  for  the 
fire  to  consume  the  foundation  on  which  the  floor  of 
his  apartment  rests.  The  very  reverse  of  this  may 
be  true — the  fire  has  almost  reached  him,  and  he 
knows  it  not ;  all  that  supports  the  platform  on  which 
he  stands  is  well  nigh  consumed,  and  he  may  be  pre- 
cipitated in  a  moment  into  the  burning  flames  below. 
So  the  soul  may  be  rationally  convinced  that  if  it  re- 
mains in  its  present  state  it  must  be  forever  lost,  yet 
thinking  that  there  is  time  enough-  yet  to  attend  to 
the  -subject  of  the  soul's  salvation  in  earnest,  and 
wishing  to  remain  in  its  present  state  a  little  longer, 
"  a  little  more  sleep,  and  a  little  more  slumber,  and 
folding  of  the  arms  to  sleep,"  sudden  destruction  may 
come  in  a  moment — the  cords  of  life  may  be  snapped 
asunder,  without  a  moment's  waining,  and  sink  into 
the  flaming  billows  to  rise  no  more. 

We  vdW  suppose  that  the  youth  in  the  burning  house,  instead 
of  trying  to  get  out  of  it  as  soon  as  possible,  should  stop  to  as- 
certain by  what  means  the  house  took  fire — who  set  it  on  fire— ■ 
this  man  or  the  other,  or  whether  it  took  fire  accidentally  or 
not — would  not  every  spectator  call  him  a  fool  for  troubling 
himself  about  such  questions  while  his  life  was  in  such  danger. 
Would  not  the  cry  be,  escape  for  thy  life — tarry  not — look  not 
behind   thee — leave    the   burning   house   instantly  ?     Equally 


RBLIOIOtTS    ALLEGORIES.  397 

foolish  would  that  soul  be  who  is  convinced  of  his  guilt  and 
danger,  instead  of  flying  to  Christ  for  salvation,  should  spend 
its  time  in  trying  to  find  out  the  reason  why  sin  was  suffered 
to  lay  waste  the  works  of  God — could  it  not  have  been  pre- 
vented— and  many  other  subjects  of  the  like  kind,  equally  un- 
fathomable by  the  human  mind. 

It  must  be  observed  that  the  Faith  exercised  by  the  youth 
in  the  burning  house,  caused  him  to  act,  and  venture  his  life  on 
the  issue.  Perhaps  ie  might  reason,  that  his  being  at  such  a 
distance  from  his  father  and  his  friends,  who  stood  on  the 
ground  below,  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  save  him  from 
being  dashed  to  pieces  should  he  cast  himself  down  ;  there 
may  be  a  strong  conflict  between  belief  and  unbelief,  but  gen- 
uine faith  will  conquer.  The  soul  that  is  truly  and  savingly 
in  earnest  about  its  salvation,  not  only  believes  in  a  general 
manner  that  the  Bible  is  the  voice  of  God  to  man,  but  his  be- 
lief must  induce  him  to  hearken  to  that  voice,  and  consider  its 
threatenings  as  denounced  against  his  disobedience  ;  he  must, 
in  order  to  obtain  salvation,  fly  to  Christ,  cast  himself  upon  his 
mercy,  and  claim  the  promises  which  are  made  to  the  soul  that 
puts  its  trust  in  his  mercy  and  power. 

The  youth  in  the  burning  house  discovers  that  there  are  no 
back  stairs  by  which  he  can  reach  a  place  of  safety,  for  they 
are  already  entirely  destroyed  by  the  fire,  or  else  nothing  but  a 
burning  mass,  so  that  escape  by  them  is  utterly  impossible.  In 
like  manner  the  truly  awakened  soul  will  see  that  there  is  no 
other  way  of  escape  but  to  leave  the  state  of  sin  and  death,  as 
there  can  be  no  salvation  while  remaining  in  it.  But  if  the 
Boul  will  go  forward  and  cast  itself  into  the  everlasting  aims 
of  love  and  compassion,  he  who  cannot  lie,  promises  salvation. 


**  Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  breast 
A  thousand  thoughts  revolve, 
Come,  with  your  guilt  and  fear  oppressed, 
And  make  this  last  resolve: 

I  '11  go  to  Jesus,  though  my  sin 
Like  mountains  round  me  close ; 

I  know  his  courts,  I  '11  enter  in. 
Whatever  may  oppose.'* 


298 


RELIGIOUS   ALLEGORIES. 


1 


Broad  is  the  way  that  Undeth  to  destruction,  and  many  there  le  that  gn 

in  thereat I\arrov:  is  the  way  iehick  leadcth  unto  life,  and  fao 

there  be  that  find  it. — Matt.  vii.  13,  14. 

THE  PATH  OF  LIFE,  AND  WAY  OF  DEATH. 

The  Path  of  Life,  and  Death's  frequented  way, 
Who  can  describe  1  what  pencil  can  portray? 
The  way  of  Death  is  broad,  with  downward  slide, 
Easy  and  pleasant  to  man's  lust  and  pride  ; 
'T  is  thronged  with  multitudes  who  glide  along 
With  gold,  and  drink,  and  dance,  and  wanton  song: 


RELIGI0U3    ALLEGORIES.  599 

Nor  theee  alone — but  some  of  decent  mien, 
"  Harmless"  and  "  useless"  on  the  way  are  seen ; 
In  ruin's  gulph  it  ends.     See  I  rising  there, 
Thick,  clouds  of  blackness,  and  of  dark  despair. 
The  Path  of  Liie  lifts  "p  its  narrow  breadth. 
High  o'er  the  realms  of  darkness  and  of  death  ; 
Sky-rising,  still,  laborious  and  straight. 
Leading  directly  up  to  heaven's  gate  ; 
'T  is  wondrous  strange,  and  yet,  alas  !  'tis  true. 
The  Path  of  Life  is  traveled  but  by  few. 
Though  ending  where  the  shades  of  night  ne'er  faU, 
But  one  eternal  Light  encircles  all. 

Here  is  depicted  the  path  of  life,  and  the  waj  of 
death.  The  way  of  death  is  exceeding  broad,  and 
on  an  inclined  plane.  It  has  a  downward  tendency  ; 
it  is  occupied  by  a  vast  multitude.  Some  are  seen 
throwing  themselves  off  the  way  headlong,  others  are 
bearing  aloft  the  terrible  banners  of  war.  They  are 
elated  with  victor)*.  Here  the  man  of  pleasure  revels 
in  delight.  The  drunkard  is  dancing  with  wild  de- 
lirious joy,  and  the  miser  groans  beneath  his  bags  of 
gold.  There  are,  however,  some  sober,  respectable 
people  on  the  way.  These  appear  to  look  grave  and 
thoughtfiil.  The  way  ends,  you  perceive,  in  total 
darkness.  Thick  clouds  of  curling  blackness  rising 
from  a  pit  or  gulph,  cover  the  extremity  of  the  way. 
The  travelers  enter  the  dismal  shades,  and  we  see 
them  no  more. 

From  the  way  of  death  you  see  another  way,  or 
path  rather,  stretching  up,  as  it  were,  into  the  clouds. 
This  is  called  the  path  of  life.  It  is  extremely  nar- 
row. It  is  moreover  difficult  on  account  of  its  up- 
ward tendency.  Few  persons  are  seen  walking  on 
it ;  these  scattered  here  and  there.  This  path  appears 
to  end  well.  We  can  see  where  it  does  end.  A  beau- 
tiful palace  opens  its  golden  gates  to  receive  the  wea- 
ried travelers.     From  its  opened  portals  bursts  forth 

a  dazzling  light  that  illuminates  the  pathway  beneath. 
3e 


300  BBLIOIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

By  the  way  of  death,  is  signified  the  way  of  sin 
that  leads  to  death  eternal.  "  The  wages  of  sin  is 
death."  Its  downward  tendency  denotes,  that  it  is 
much  easier  to  go  wrong  than  to  go  right.  The  way 
of  sin  is  easy  and  pleasant  to  man's  corrupt  nature. 
He  delights  in  it  after  the  inner  man.  Were  it  not 
so,  surely  so  many  in  all  ages  would  not  be  found 
walking  therein.  The  Creator  himself  gives  us  the 
reason.  "  The  thoughts  of  the  imaginations  of  his 
heart  are  evil,  only  evil,  and  that  continually."  Hence 
man  follows  the  bent  of  his  inclination.  He  goes 
with  the  stream  ;  "  every  one  in  his  own  way."  To 
do  otherwise,  would  require  self-denial,  and  vigorous, 
persevering  effort. 

In  the  engraving,  some  are  seen  casting  themselves 
off  the  way.  By  this  is  meant,  not  that  sinners  grow 
tired  of  the  way  of  sin  exactly,  but  that  they  are  tired 
of  themselves  ;  they  are  tired  of  life.  Their  sub- 
stance is  expended  in  gambling  and  profligacy.  The 
means  of  indulging  their  depraved  appetite  no  longer 
exists  ;  hence  they  commit  suicide  ;  plunge  into  eter- 
nity, and  add  to  the  number  of  those  who  die  without 
hope,  for  "  Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish."  Others,  by  their  excesses  in  riotous  living 
and  debaucheries,  break  down  their  constitution,  and 
destroy  life,  and  thus  perish  with  those  who  "  live  not 
out  half  their  days." 

Warriors  are  also  in  the  way  of  death,  raising  to 
the  breeze  the  flag  of  triumph.  These  denote  the 
men  "who  delight  in  war," — who,  for  wealth  and 
glory,  "  sink,  burn,  and  destroy,"  and  slaughter  their 
fellow-creatures.  These  violate  the  law  of  Jehovah, 
♦♦  Thou  shalt  not  kill."  Drunkards  too  are  in  this 
way,  carousing  with  strong  drink,  dancing  with  ma- 
niac madness,  and  yet,  on  the  way  to  ruin,  drowning 
the  cares  of  time,  but  planting  thorns  for  eternity. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  SOl 

These  belong  to  the  class  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  such 
shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God."  The  one 
with  the  bag  of  gold  represents  that  very  large  class 
who  worship  Mammon  on  the  earth  ;  who  never  think 
even  of  heaven,  except  when  they  remember  that 
it  is  paved  with  gold.  These  are  idolaters  ;  the 
meanest  of  the  Devil's  drudges,  the  vilest  of  the  slaves 
of  sin.  Others  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  ;  but  he 
sweats  and  groans  beneath  his  load  ;  he  takes  place 
with  the  breakers  of  God's  law,  "  Thou  shalt  have 
no  other  gods  before  me." 

Some  pass  the  time  in  wanton  dalliance  ;  these 
designate  the  adulterer,  fornicator,  and  the  impure. 
These  take  pleasure  in  unrighteousness ;  give  up 
their  affections  to  the  control  of  lust ;  indulge  in  mere 
animal  delights  ;  imbrute  their  manhood ;  quench 
their  intellect,  and  barter  the  glories  of  heaven  for  a 
"portion  in  the  lake  which  buraeth  with  fire  and 
brimstone  ;  this  is  the  second  death."  Others  of 
staid  and  respectable  appearance  are  in  this  way. 
Men  of  dignity  and  of  consequence  ;  men  of  morals 
and  philosophy,  all  honorable  men  ;  men  who  are 
harmless  in  their  generation,  honest  in  their  dealings. 
They  "  render  to  Caesar  the  things  which  are  Ce- 
sar's," but  alas  for  them,  they  do  not  "  render  unto 
God  the  things  which  are  God's."  One  thing  only  is 
wanting.  "  One  thing  thou  lackest."  The  heart  is 
unsuiTendered  ;  hence  there  is  no  repentance — no 
living  faith — no  homage — no  love — no  obedience — 
no  salvation.  These,  alas,  all  take  rank  with  the 
"  unprofitable  servant,"  who  was  cast  into  outer  dark- 
ness, where  there  is  weeping,  and  wailing,  and  gnash- 
ing of  teeth. 

But  time  would  fail  to  describe  the  various  char- 
acters that  throng  the  way  of  death.  The  gross 
sensualist,  the  haughty  Pharisee,  and  the  specious 


303  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIEB. 

hjrpocrite,  are  all  here.  But  is  it  possible  some  one 
may  say,  that  so  many  are  in  the  way  to  eternal 
death  ?  God  himself  has  answered  the  question  ; 
we  have  heard  his  voice.  It  is  not  only  true  that 
they  arc  going,  but  that  they  go  of  their  own  accord. 
The  sinner  is  threatened,  admonished,  and  warned, 
and  yet  he  goes  on.  He  is  persuaded,  entreated,  and 
invited  to  turn  and  live,  and  yet  he  goes  on. 

If  you  see  a  man  traveling  a  road  that  you  know 
to  be  frequented  with  robbers,  you  tell  him  of  his 
danger  ;  he  persists  in  going  on  ;  the  robbers  strip 
him  and  leave  him  for  dead  ;  who  is  to  blame  ?  The 
sinner  is  warned  of  his  danger,  and  yet  he  persists 
in  sin.  Numbers  control  not  the  sword  of  justice. 
The  antideluvians  were  faithfully  warned  ;  they  went 
on  and  perished  in  the  flood.  The  men  of  Sodom 
were  warned ;  they  persisted,  and  perished  in  the 
rain  of  fire.  The  Jews  were  warned  also,  even  by 
the  Son  of  God,  and  yet  they  went  on  in  rebellion, 
until  of  their  city  not  one  stone  was  left  standing  upon 
another,  and  themselves  scattered  and  peeled  among 
the  nations. 

The  sinner  neglects  a  great  salvation.  Neglecting 
only  to  get  into  the  Ark  will  expose  him  to  the  flood 
of  fire.  Neglecting  salvation,  he  contemns  the  "  love 
of  God."  He  "  tramples  upon  the  blood  of  the  cov- 
enant. He  does  "despite  to  the  Spirit  of  grace." 
How  shall  he  escape  if  he  neglects  so  great  salva- 
tion. "  These  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  pun- 
ishment." 

"  I  saw  the  lake  of  quenchless  fires. 
And  souls  on  its  billows  tost ; 
Despair,  remorse  which  ne'er  expires. 
The  worm  of  the  deathless  lost. 

Grief  filled  my  bursting  heart, — I  cried. 

Shall  this  distress  end  never]" 
The  shrieks  of  millions  loud  replied, 

•'  These  pangs  endure — forever !" 


KELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  303 

By  the  path  of  life  is  designated  the  path  of  holi- 
ness, that  leads  to  life  eternal.  "Blessed  are  the 
pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God."  It  is  narrow 
and  steep  ;  it  requires  care  and  effort.  The  pilgrim 
must  deny  himself;  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  watch 
unto  prayer.  It  is  difficult  only  to  flesh  and  blood  ; 
to  the  carnal  mind,  not  to  the  spiritual ;  to  the  unre- 
generate,  not  to  him  that  is  born  again.  To  the 
righteous  its  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all 
its  paths  are  paths  of  peace.  Narrow  is  the  way  that 
leads  to  life,  and  few  there  are  that  find  it.  Fewer 
still  endure  to  the  end  thereof.  The  few  were  once 
in  the  way  of  death.  They  were  among  the  many 
that  were  called.  They  obeyed  the  heavenly  call, 
forsook  the  broad  way,  and  entered  upon  the  path  of 
life. 

The  Path  of  Life  ends  well ;  God  delights  in  holiness.  He 
did  not  overlook  Noah  in  the  overflowing  of  the  ungodly,  nor 
Lot  in  Sodom.  The  faithful  few  are  God's  jewels  ;  his  hidden 
ones,  while  tribulation  and  "  angush  are  assigned  to  the  diso- 
bedient." The  patient  continuance  of  the  righteous  in  well 
doing  "  will  be  rewarded  with  glory,  and  honor,  and  immor- 
taUty,"  for  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return  and  come  to 
Zion  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads.  They 
shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee 
away. 

"  I  saw  the  countless,  happy  throng 

In  the  bhssful  regions  high  ; 
White  robes — gold  crowns — and  lofty  song, 

With  their  harps  in  harmony. 
Hope  brightened  at  the  dazzling  sight, 

'  Shall  aught  from  heaven  sever  V 
And  myriads  sung — '  Our  peace,  joy,  light, 

And  glory,  last  forever." 


304 


KT^.LTl.rOUR    ALLEGORTKS. 


^^    ly  \y 


'=:-^. 


The  loorld  passeth  away. — I  John,  ii,  17.    Now  is  the  day  of  salvation.- 
2  Cor.  vL  2.     Ye  know  not  wkat  shall  be  on  the  morrow. — James  iv.  li 

PAST,  PRESENT,  AND  FUTURE. 

Look  on  the  Past.     Behold  !  wide  scattered  round, 
Time's  fragments — every  where  they  strew  the  ground: 
The  Dead  are  there — once  blooming,  young  and  gay, 
'Mid  putrefaction,  lo  !  they  waste  away. 
The  aged  oak,  once  tall,  and  strong,  and  green. 
Decayed  and  withered  in  the  past  is  seen ; 
The  lordly  mansion,  once  the  owner's  trust. 
Its  glory  gone,  see  crumbling  into  dust. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  305 

E'en  Egj'pt's  boast,  the  pyramids  of  yore. 
Shall  fall  to  ruin,  and  be  known  no  more. 
The  Past  is  gone  ;  the  Future,  black  as  night. 
By  clouds  lies  hidden  from  all  mortal  sight  ; 
The  -Present's  here — see  there  with  angel  brow. 
Wisdom  lifts  up  her  voice  of  mercy.     Now — 
Now — the  accepted  time,  the  gracious  day, 
When  man  repentant,  wipes  his  stains  away  ; 
Inspires  new  life,  through  the  atoning  blood, 
And  writes  his  name  among  the  sons  of  God. 

This  picture  is  emblematical  of  the  Past,  Future, 
and  Present,  as  these  divisions  of  time  appear  to  us, 
who  are  now  on  the  stage  of  human  life.  Behold 
the  Past  !  see  there  the  fragments  that  time  has  left 
behind  :  there  is  the  burying  place,  filled  with  the 
records  of  the  past — what  a  volume  of  Biography  is 
the  grave-yard  ;  there  they  lay,  the  blooming  and 
the  beautiful — ^the  strong  and  the  active — all  moul- 
dering into  dust.  The  laughing  eye — the  noble 
brow — the  dimpled  cheek — the  teeth  of  pearl — the 
musical  tongue — the  brain  creative — and  the  cunning 
hand — all,  all,  are  silent  in  the  tomb,  and  melting 
into  earth. 

There  too,  is  the  oak,  that  once  towered  in  strength 
and  beauty,  now  withered  and  decayed  ;  once  it  gave 
shelter  to  the  beasts  of  the  field,  the  fowls  of  heaven 
lodged  in  its  branches — now  it  needs  a  prop  to  pre- 
vent its  falling  to  the  ground. 

The  splendid  mansion  is  seen  crumbling  into  dust. 
Architecture,  and  sculpture,  and  painting,  had  be- 
stowed upon  it  their  highest  efforts  ;  the  artist  looked 
with  pride  upon  it,  the  owner  delighted  in  it ;  but  it 
is  gone — its  glory  has  departed — it  is  among  the 
things  that  have  been. 

In  the  distance  are  seen  the  huge  forms  of  the 
pyramids  ;  Egypt's  renown  and  the  wonder  of  the 
world — memorials  of  the  past,  telling  us  of  the  folly, 


306  EELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES 

cruelty,  despotisra,  and  ambition  of  kings — telling  us, 
too,  doubtless,  of  the  sweat,  and  groans,  and  tears, 
and  blood,  of  thousands  of  the  men  like  ourselves,  who 
slaved  and  labored  to  build  those  gigantic  monuments 
— but  these  also,  will  pass  away ;  if  not  before,  they 
must  when  the  earth  shall  reel  to  and  fro,  and  totter 
like  a  drunken  man.  Then,  at  least,  all  physical  re- 
miniscences of  the  past,  sinking  into  the  deep  sea  of 
oblivion,  will  be  recognized  no  more. 

The  Future  is  represented  by  clouds  of  darkness 
that  rise  upon  the  path,  and  shut  out  from  mortal 
vision  all  prospect  of  what  is  before.  Religion,  the 
daughter  of  the  skies,  who  descended  from  heaven, 
and  who  is  hastening  back  again  to  her  blest  abode, 
is  seen  on  the  circular  path  of  time.  It  is  time 
Present  wherever  she  appears  ;  she  holds  in  her 
hand  a  scroll,  see  its  burden  !  She  is  in  earnest — 
she  looks  benignly  and  compassionately  as  she  passes 
by — she  makes  known  to  man  his  highest  good  ; 
above  her  head  is  seen  a  crounri  of  glory — this  she 
promises  to  all  who  will  obey  her  voice,  and  improve 
the  present  time. 

The  past  is  gone.  The  castles — the  mansions — 
the  green  oaks — and  the  towers — and  let  them  go  ! 
The  monuments  of  the  pride  and  ambition,  and  wick- 
edness, of  kings  and  conquerors,  are  crumbling  into 
dust,  and  let  them  crumble  !  The  glory,  splendor 
and  renown  of  heroes,  are  fast  fading  away,  and  le 
them  fade.  But  the  dead  shall  live  again — they  that 
sleep  in  the  dust  shall  awake — that  which  is  sown  in 
dishonor  shall  be  raised  in  glory. 

The  past  is  gone — time  once  lost,  is  lost  for  ever. 
Past  opportunities  for  doing  good  and  for  getting 
good,  are  gone,  and  gone  for  ever.  "  'Tis  greatly 
wise  to  talk  with  our  past  hours,  and  ask  them  what 
report  they  bore  to  heaven."     Happy  he. 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES,  307 

**  Whose  work  is  done  ;  who  triumphs  in  ihe  past. 
Whose  yesterdays  look,  backward  with  a  smile  ; 
Nor  like  the  Parthian  wound  him  as  they  fly : 
That  common  but  opprobrious  lot.     Past  hours. 
If  not  by  guilt,  yet  wound  us  by  their  flight, 
If  folly  bounds  our  prospect  by  the  grave. 

Yet  there  is  a  sense  in  which  the  past  never  dies. 
It  haunts  us  like  the  ghost  of  the  murdered — it  is 
ever  present — an  angel  of  light  casting  upon  us  a 
look  of  heavenly  love,  or  a  demon  of  darkness  scowl- 
ing with  malignity  and  hate — the  memory  will  exist 
for  ever.  The  remembrance  of  past  actions  ^\'ill, 
therefore,  live  forever.     "  O,  for  yesterdays  to  come." 

The  Future  is  concealed — clouds  and  darkness 
hide  it  from  our  view.  We  know  not  what  a  day 
may  bring  forth,  nor  what  an  hour  ;  we  know,  how- 
ever,  that  Death  is  there — and  after  death  the  Judg- 
ment— and  after  the  judorment  the  issues  thereof — 
"  Eternal  life''  or  ''Eternal  death:'  But  this  is  all 
we  know,  and  this  is  enough,  if  we  are  wise  ;  how 
much  of  joy  or  sorrow  there  may  be  for  us  in  the  fu- 
ture, we  know  not ;  whether  our  path  will  be  strewed 
with  roses  or  with  thorns,  we  cannot  tell — most  likely 
they  will  be  mixed.  What  opportunities  for  improve- 
ment in  religious  duties  and  privileges,  or  what  hin- 
drances, we  may  have,  we  know  not — how  much  of 
life — who  can  tell  ?  A  man  may  plant,  and  build, 
and  lay  up  goods  for  many  years,  and  yet  to-day  may 
be  his  last  day — to-night  his  soul  may  be  required 
of  him. 

If  then,  the  past  is  gone,  and  if  the  future  may 
never  come  to  us  in  life,  it  behooves  us  to  improve 
the  present.  God,  in  his  mercy  offers  salvation  noic. 
Now  is  the  accepted  time,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation. 
What  is  it  that  is  offered  ?  Salvation.  Thou  cans't 
not  do  without  salvation  :  without  it  then  art  lost  and 
89' 


308  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

lost  forever.  Seize  then,  O  seize  the  angel  as  she 
passes,  nor  suffer  her  to  go  until  she  bless  thee.  The 
present  time,  how  important !  it  includes  the  vast 
concerns  of  the  eternal  state.  Destroy  it  not,  there 
is  a  blessing  in  it.  "  Throw  years' away  ?  throw  ena- 
pires,  and  be  blameless."     The  present  seize^ 

"  O  what  heaps  of  slain 
Cry  out  for  vengeance  on  us !     Time  destroyed. 
Is  suicide,  where  more  than  blood  is  spilt  ; 
Time  flies — death  urges — knells  call — heaven  invites- 
Hell  threatens — all  exerts  ;  in  effort  all  ; 
More  than  creation  labors  ! — labors  more  ! 
Man  sleeps,  and  man  alone;  and  man  for  whom 
All  else  is  in  alarm  ;  man  the  sole  cause 
Of  this  surrounding  storm  ;  and  yet  he  sleeps. 
As  the  storm  rocked  to  rest." 

Now  is  the  accepted  time  ;  God  will  accept  thee 
now  ;  he  no  where  promises  to  accept  thee  to-mor- 
row. Think,  O  think,  of  thy  soul,  and  its  value  ; 
think  of  Jehovah  and  his  love  ;  think  of  Christ  and 
his  precious  blood  ;  think  of  heaven  and  its  eternal 
blessedness  ;  of  hell  and  its  terrible  torments.  Upon 
thy  present  conduct  rests  thy  eternal  destiny.  What 
art  thou  sowing  ?  What  ail  thou  working  ?  What 
art  thou  treasuring  up?  Let  conscience  answer. 
Think  of  the  past,  and  all  its  guilt — of  the  future  and 
its  great  uncertainty — of  the  present  as  thine.  To- 
morrow may  be  too  late  ;  now  is  the  day  of  salva- 
tion— now  thou  may'st  wash  away  thy  sins,  calling 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord — inspire  a  new  life — re- 
joice in  glorious  hope — enroll  your  name  among  the 
children  of  God,  and  become  a  glorious  citizen  of 
immortality  in  heaven. 

Improve  the  present.  See !  look  on  that  beach  ;  there  is  a 
boat  high  and  dry,  with  a  man  in  it — he  is  asleep.  The  ship 
to  which  he  belongs  is  in  the  offing  ;  she  will  sail  the  next 
tide.  The  tide  rises — the  man  sleeps  on — the  tide  ebbs — he 
awakes — the  water  is  gone,  the  ship  is  gone,  and  he  is  left  to 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  309 

perish  on  a  desolate  island.  There  is  a  tide  in  man's  spiritual 
affairs,  which,  when  taken  at  the  rise,  leads  on  to  hea\en  ;— 
omitted,  he  may  be  left  to  perish.  My  spirit,  saith  the  Lord, 
shall  not  always  strive  with  man. 

Now  is  the  accepted  time  Behold  that  rail-road  car;  it 
has  ju.=t  started — look  again — there  is  a  person  with  his  hands 
upraised,  exclaiming,  "  alas,  too  late  I"  He  is  left  behind,  his 
friends  are  all  on  board,  and  is  not  with  them — great  is  his 
grief.  Man  is  a  stranger  here — God  sends  the  chariot  of  his 
love  to  bear  him  home  ;  again  and  again  it  comes — it  is  here 
iiow — 0  sinner,  step  on  board.  The  Saviour  is  there — he  in- 
Wtes  thee  to  leave  thy  sins,  and  sinful  companions,  and  get  on 
Doard  of  the  heavenly  car — the  car  of  mercy.  It  is  ready  to 
jtart — all  things  are  now  ready — some  of  thy  friends  are  there. 
Hesitate  not — delay  not — or,  like  the  passenger,  thou  may'st 
ind  thyself  in  a  more  mournful  sense  "  too  late,"  and,  "  a  mo- 
ment you  may  wish  when  worlds  want  wealth  to  buy." 


O  God,  our  help  in  ages  past, 
Our  hope  for  years  to  come. 

Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast. 
And  our  eternal  home. 

Before  the  hills  in  order  stood. 
Or  earth  received  her  frame. 

From  everlasting  thou  art  God, 
To  endless  years  the  same. 

Thy  word  commands  our  flesh  to  dust* 
"  Return,  ye  sons  of  men  f 

All  nations  rose  from  earth  at  first, 
And  turn  to  earth  again. 

A  thousand  ages  in  thy  sight. 

Are  hke  an  evening  gone  ; 
Short  as  the  watch  that  ends  the  night. 

Before  the  rising  sun. 

The  busy  tribes  of  flesh  and  blood, 
With  all  their  lives  and  cares. 

Are  carried  downward  by  the  flood. 
And  lost  in  following  years. —  Watts. 


310 


RELIGIOUS    AILKGOKIKS. 


Far  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him,  are  all  things.— Rom.  xl.  38. 

Time  is  short.— 1  Cor.  vii.  29.     IVhich  is,  and  which  was,  and  which 

is  to  come. — Rev.  i.  8. 


PROVIDENCE,  TIME,  ETERNITY. 

Upon  a  narrow  isle,  'mid  waters  vast. 
By  stress  of  tide  the  voyagers  ore  cast; 
Beneath — around — a  dark  and  boundless  sea  ; 
Above,  thick  clouds  wrap  all  in  mystery 
The  Ocean  wears  the  shore  on  every  side, 


Ki:LllJrOU3    ALLEGOEIES.  oil 

As  Time  decreases  'neath  the  Eternal  tide, 
Yet  one — deluded  man  !  strives  much  to  reach 
The  shells  and  pebbles  on  the  crumbling  beach  ; 
The  waves  dash  on — another  ponrlering  stands. 
And  sees  destruction  come  with  folded  hands. 
Not  so  the  third — he  turns  his  longing  eyes, 
And  views  a  chain  descending  from  the  skies. 
The  Providential  chain  with  links  of  love. 
Watched  by  an  eye  that  never  sleeps  above  ; 
He  grasps  the  chain — from  all  his  fears  it  saves. 
While  his  companions  perish  'neath  the  waves. 

Ix  the  engraving  is  seen  a  representation  of  the 
all-seeing  eye.  It  is  placed  above  every  thing  else, 
to  show  that  the  eye  of  God's  Providence  watches 
over  all  creation,  taking  notice  of  every  event  through- 
out all  time  and  space.  Though  to  human  vision  there 
may  be  clouds  and  darkness  about  the  throne  of  the 
Eternal,  yet  to  his  all-seeing  eye,  darkness  is  as  noon- 
day. All  things  are  before  him,  and  nothing  is  too 
minute  for  his  inspection.  He  see^s  the  rise  and  fall 
of  empires,  and  with  equal  attention  sees  the  sparrow 
fall  to  the  ground,  for  in  a  certain  sense  nothing  is 
great  or  small  before  him.  Throughout  all  time  and 
space,  the  eye  of  Providence  penetrates  ;  yea  more, 
it  reaches  farther ;  eternity  itself,  to  the  human  mind 
dark,  fathomless,  boundless,  endless,  is  penetrated  and 
comprehended. 

A  chain  is  seen  descending  from  above,  of  which 
we  can  neither  see  the  beginning  or  the  ending  ;  but 
as  far  as  we  can  discover,  is  but  a  small  part  of  a 
mighty  whole.  It  is  true  a  man  may  see  a  few  of  the 
links  of  the  chain  before  him,  their  connection  with 
each  other,  but  how  far  they  may  extend  above  or 
below  his  vision,  he  has  no  knowledge.  This  shows 
us  that  the  great  chain  of  God's  Providential  dispen- 
sations in  the  universe  is  but  partially  seen  or  com- 
prehended.    It  is  true  while  on  these  mortal  ^oreg, 


318  TIELIGI0U8    ALLEGORIES. 

we  may  see  a  few  of  the  connecting  links  of  this 
chain,  but  to  what  heights  it  reaches,  or  to  what 
depths  it  penetrates,  we  have  no  adequate  conception. 

"  In  what  manner,  indeed,"  says  a  celebrated  wri- 
ter, "  Providence  interposes  in  human  affairs,  by  what 
means  it  influences  the  thoughts  and  counsels  of  men, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  influence  it  exerts,  leaves  to 
them  the  freedom  of  choice,  are  subjects  of  a  dark 
and  mysterious  nature,  and  which  have  given  occa- 
sion to  many  an  intricate  controversy.  Let  us  re- 
member that  the  manner  in  which  God  influences  the 
motion  of  all  the  heavenly  bodies,  the  nature  of  that 
secret  power  by  which  he  is  ever  directing  the  sun 
and  the  moon,  the  planets,  stars,  and  comets,  in  their 
course  through  the  heavens,  while  they  appear  to  move 
themselves  in  a  free  course,  are  matters  no  less  inex- 
plicable  to  us,  than  the  manner  in  which  he  influen- 
ces the  counsels  of  men.  But  though  the  mode  of 
divine  operation  remains  unknown,  the  fact  of  an 
over-i-uling  influence  is  equally  certain,  in  the  moral, 
as  it  is  in  the  natural  world." 

"  In  cases  where  the  fact  is  clearly  authenticated, 
we  are  not  at  liberty  to  call  its  truth  in  question, 
merely  because  we  understand  not  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  brought  about.  Nothing  can  be  more 
clear,  from  the  testimony  of  Scripture,  than  that  God 
takes  part  in  all  that  happens  among  mankind,  di- 
recting and  over-ruling  the  whole  course  of  events, 
so  as  to  make  every  one  of  them  answer  the  designs 
of  his  wise  and  righteous  government." 

"  We  cannot,  indeed,  conceive  God  acting  as  the 
governor  of  the  world  at  all,  unless  his  government 
were  to  extend  to  all  the  e^^ents  that  can  happen.  It 
is  upon  the  supposition  of  a  particular  providence, 
that  our  worship  and  prayers  to  him  are  founded.  All 
his  perfections  would  be  utterly  insignificant  to  w,  if 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIRS.  313 

they  were  not  exercised  on  every  occasion,  according 
as  the  circumstances  of  his  creatures  required.  The 
Almighty  would  then  be  no  more  than  an  unconcerned 
spectator  of  the  behavior  of  his  subjects,  regarding 
the  obedient  and  rebellious  with  an  equal  eye." 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  engraving  is  seen  a  little 
spot  of  earth  in  the  vast  ocean  by  which  it  is  sur- 
Dunded,  on  which  is  seen  three  persons.  This  small 
place  may  represent  Time,  which  has  arisen  out  of 
the  eternity  of  the  past.  Though  now  visible,  it  is 
destined  soon  to  sink  into  oblivion  in  the  midst  of  the 
mighty  waters.  One  of  the  figures  on  this  little  spot 
of  time  is  seen  very  busy  in  collecting  the  little  peb- 
bles or  particles  of  shining  dust  around  him.  How 
foolish  this,  when  he  must  know  that  the  rolling  tide 
will  soon  overflow  all  around  him.  Equally  foolish 
is  he,  who,  in  this  transitory  life,  instead  of  looking 
upward  and  using  the  means  Providence  has  placed 
within  his  reach  for  his  escape  from  overflowing  de- 
struction, spends  his  precious  moments  in  collecting 
the  little  baubleo  and  toys  of  earth. 

On  the  left  is  seen  one  who  appears  to  be  gravely 
philosophizing  upon  the  scene  he  beholds  around 
him.  He  realizes  that  he  is  standing  on  a  speck  of 
earth,  in  the  midst  of  a  mighty  ocean,  of  which  he 
can  neither  see  the  bottom  or  the  shore.  He  looks 
backward  ;  all  is  dark  to  his  vision  ;  he  looks  around 
him  ;  all  is  mysterious  and  incomprehensible  ;  for- 
ward ;  all,  all,  is  thick  darkness.  He  is  sensible  that 
the  tide  of  death  will  soon  overflow  him  and  all  with 
whom  he  is  connected  ;  but  will  eternal  oblivion  and 
forgetfulness  be  his  portion  ?  Perhaps  he  thinks  so  ; 
but  at  times  the  immortal  spirit  will  stir  within  him 
and  "  startle  back"  at  the  thought  of  amiihilation. 
Ah,  poor  fool  !  he  turns  his  back  and  will  not  look  at 
the  bright  chain  of  God's  Providence  which  so  man- 


314  RELKIIOUS    ALLEGOUIES. 

ifestly  appears.  Perhaps  he  may  try  to  persuade  him- 
self that  the  chain  hangs  there  by  chance.  He  has 
been  told  that  earth  and  heaven  are  connected  by  it. 
He  professes  to  see  no  necessary  connection  ;  he 
cannot  see  its  beginning,  how  it  is  supported  on  high. 
He  has  heard  that  by  it  man  can  be  elevated  to  a 
heavenly  life.  This  may  appear  foolishness  to  him. 
Perhaps  he  may  think  that  if  man  were  destined  to 
live  hereafter,  he  would  not  have  been  placed  on 
these  mortal  shores  ;  or  if  immortal,  it  will  be  in  some 
other  mode  than  that  pointed  out  in  the  Bible.  He 
is  wise  in  his  own  conceit.  He  turns  himself  from 
Gods'  method  of  salvation  ;  refuses  to  look  upward ; 
continues  to  reason  "  in  endless  mazes  lost ;"  will  not 
lay  hold  of  the  only  hope  set  before  him  ;  he  "  won- 
ders and  perishes"  in  the  overflowing  of  the  mighty 
waters. 

One  of  the  persons  on  the  little  island  is  seen  with 
his  eyes  turned  upward  ;  his  hands  are  uplifted  in 
thankfulness  and  adoration.  He  beholds  the  bright 
chain  of  God's  Providential  mercy  ;  he  lays  hold  of 
the  only  hope  set  before  him.  It  is  tme  he  can  see 
but  a  few  of  the  connecting  links  of  the  golden  chain 
above,  but  he  fully  believes  that  it  is  connected  with, 
and  sustained  by,  an  Almighty  Power  above.  He 
has  occasional  glimpses  of  the  all-seeing  eye  ;  he 
feels  that  he  is  under  its  supervision.  He  feels  him- 
self  encircled,  upheld  and  sustained  by  Infinite  power 
and  love,  and  rejoices  that  all  things  are  under  the 
control  of  a  kind  Pro\-idence. 

It  is  true  the  Christian  may  see  clouds  and  dark- 
ness above,  around,  and  below  him.  He  may  not 
know  why  sin,  and  consequently  misery,  is  suffered 
to  exist  in  the  universe  of  God.  He  may  not  know 
why  he  is  placed  here  In  the  circumstances  by  which 
he  is  surrounded.     He  weeps  often  ;  it  may  be  to  see 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES.  315 

how  sin  has  laid  waste  the  works  of  God;  how  the 
wicked  often  triumph,  and  the  good  are  crushed  into 
the  dust.  He  may  not  know  the  beginning,  or  origin 
of  God's  Providential  dealings,  how  far  they  reach 
into  this,  or  other  worlds.  But  notwithstanding  the 
Christian  may  not  be  able  to  fathom  these  and  many 
other  subjects,  yet  he  confides  in  the  Almighty  power 
above.  He  lays  hold  of  salvation  ;  he  is  elevated  to 
the  regions  of  eternal  light  and  glory,  while  his  un- 
believing companions  perish  amid  the  dark  rolling 
waters  of  the  ocean. 

The  ocean  has  sometimes  been  considered  as  an  emblem  of 
eternity,  on  account  of  its  vast  extent,  its  fathomless  depths,  and 
its  appearance  to  human  vision  oftentimes,  as  vrithout  a  bottom 
or  shore.  "  Eternity,"  says  one,  "  with  respect  to  God  is  a  du- 
ration without  beginning  or  end.  With  regard  to  created  beings, 
it  is  a  duration  that  has  a  beginning,  but  will  never  have  an 
end.  It  is  a  duration  that  excludes  all  number  and  computa- 
tion ;  days,  months,  and  years,  yea  and  ages,  are  lost  in  it  like 
drops  in  the  ocean.  Millions  o(  millions  of  years,  as  many 
years  as  there  are  sands  on  the  sea-shore,  or  particles  of  dust 
in  the  globe  of  the  earth,  and  these  multiplied  to  the  highest 
reach  of  number,  all  these  are  nothing  to  eternity.  They  do 
not  bear  the  imaginable  proportit  n  to  it,  for  these  will  come  to 
an  end  as  certainly  as  a  day  ;  but  eternity  will  never,  never, 
never,  come  to  an  end  !  It  is  a  time  without  an  end  !  it  is  an 
ocean  without  a  shore  !  Alas  !  what  shall  I  say  of  it !  it  isaa 
infinite,  unknown  something,  that  neither  human  thought  can 
grasp,  nor  human  language  describe  1"  •    •    • 

40 


316 


HET,rr:TOUS   Ar.i.F.<;oBTF.K. 


AUduia  '  for  tru  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth. — Rev.  six.  & 

THE  TRIUMPH  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 

'Tis  come  !  'tis  come  !     The  long  expected  day  ; 
When  sin  no  longer  o'er  the  earth  bears  sway  ; 
But  Truth,  triumphant,  sheds  its  mellow  light, 
And  all  below  is  clear,  and  pure,  and  bright. 
See  Christianity  !  the  gift  of  Grace  ! 
Receives  in  form  the  homage  of  our  race  ; 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGOKIES.  317 

Europa  fair,  hei  princely  tribute  brings, 

A  grateful  offering,  to  the  King  of  kings  ; 

Asia  rejects  the  Shasters  and  the  Sword, 

Throws  by  the  Koran,  and  receives  the  IVord; 

Lo !  Afric  breaks  her  chains  of  crime  and  blood. 

And  lowly  bending,  lifts  her  hands  to  God. 

No  more  she  wages  wars  for  white  man's  gold — 

No  more  she  mourns  her  children  bought  and  sold. 

See,  too,  America,  with  pipe  of  peace  ! 

Comes  now  to  sue  for  love  and  heavenly  grace  ; 

The  tomahawk,  and  bow,  and  cruel  knife, 

T'  exchange  for  records  of  eternal  life : 

•'Ti:^  come  !  'tis  come  !  the  long  expected  day! 

Lo  I  God  has  triumphed,  Truth  divine  bears  sway  ; 

Lord  allfc}uias  heavenly  angels  sing. 

For  earib.  rt:?ewed  with  joy,  receives  her  king. 

IHE  above  engraving  represents  Christianity  re- 
ct-»ving  the  homage  of  the  world.  In  her  right  hand 
shd  holds  the  crown  of  immortality  ;  in  her  left,  the 
Word  of  God  ;  her  looks  and  bearing  bespeak  grace, 
dignity,  majesty,  empire,  triumph,  and  matchless  love. 
Behold  Europe  brings  her  crown — emblem  of  power 
— and  lays  it  meekly  at  the  feet  of  Christianity. 
Asia,  represented  by  a  follower  of  Mahomet,  laying 
aside  the  cimeter  and  the  Koran,  receives  with  hum- 
ble adoration,  instead  thereof,  the  revelations  of  God's 
word.  Africa  is  represented  by  a  figure  in  a  kneel- 
ing posture  ;  she  has  broken  off  her  chains,  and  is 
lifting  her  hands  to  heaven.  America  is  represented 
by  an  Indian  ;  he  holds  in  his  hand  the  calumet  or 
pipe  of  peace  ;  he  has  laid  aside  the  murderous  tom- 
ahawk, the  bow  that  sprang  the  arrow  c>f  death,  and 
the  scalping  knife.  He  buries  the  hatchet  for  ever, 
and  offers  the  emblem  of  peace. 

The  above  is  a  representation  of  the  final  triumph 
of  Christianity  over  the  world — a  day  long  expected 
by  the  faithful,  even  from  the  time  of  the  first  prom- 
ise, "he  shall  bruise  thv  head."     That  this  earth — 


318  EFLTGIors    ALLEGORIES, 

tliis  blood-stained  earth — should  become  the  scene  of 
triumph,  has  ever  been  the  hope  of  the  righteous  ; 
that  here,  where  was  the  first  defeat,  renewed  con- 
flict, and  continued  struggle — here  would  be,  and 
ought  to  be,  the  arena  of  victory.  Exulting  in  this 
hope,  the  prophet  touched  the  sacred  harp  of  proph- 
ecy, and  sang  of  "  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  of 
the  glory  that  should  follow,"  when  he  would  see  of 
the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied.  In  this  hope 
Israel's  king  prayed,  "  that  thy  way  may  be  known 
upon  the  earth,  and  thy  saving  health  among  all  na- 
tions."  Inspired  by  this  hope,  martyrs  have  kissed 
the  stake,  embraced  the  flames,  and  gone  triumph- 
antly home  to  God  ;  yea,  the  general  assembly  of 
the  Church  of  the  first-born — the  whole  body  of  the 
faithful  upon  earth — in  this  hope  rejoicing,  have  sent 
up  their  prayers  continually,  which,  like  intercessory 
angels  surrounding  the  throne  of  the  Eternal,  have 
prayed,  O  "  let  thy  kingdom  come." 

And  now  it  has  come.  Europe  is  the  Lord's — 
she  consecrates  to  God  her  dominion — her  kings  and 
queens  are  subject  to  Messiah,  and  labor  to  promote 
the  best  interests  of  their  people  ;  her  people  are  all 
righteous — her  philosophers  having  proved  all  things, 
hold  last  now  that  which  is  good  ;  her  rich  men  de- 
posit their  wealth  in  the  bank  of  heaven — her  states- 
men, studying  the  politics  of  both  worlds,  regard  also 
the  interests  of  both — the  poor  are  raised  to  compe- 
tency, to  knowledge,  and  to  virtue,  and  consequent 
happiness.  Her  arts  and  sciences  are  consecrated 
to  God  ;  her  ships  of  wnr  now  sail  in  the  service  of 
the  prince  of  peace — ships  of  commerce  are  floating 
Bethels.  The  songs  of  Jesus  have  succeeded  to  the 
songs  of  Satan,  and  blasphemies  are  turned  to  praise. 

"  The  abundance  of  the  sea  is  converted  to  G(xl," 
railroads,  steamboats,  and  tel'^graphs,    are    all    em- 


1 


RELIGIOUS    ALLE00EIE8.  319 

ployed  in  promoting  God's  glory,  and  in  Ijenefiting 
mankind.  The  Anglo-American  race,  and  others, 
partake  of  this  triumph  ;  they  have  labored  for  it — 
they  rejoice  in  it,  and  say,  lo  !  this  is  our  God  I  we 
have  waited  for  him,  we  will  rejoice  in  his  salvation. 

Asia  too,  is  the  Lord's  ;  here,  where  the  conflict 
first  began  with  sin  and  death — here  the  victory  is 
gained.  The  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  has  pre- 
vailed— the  inhabitants,  so  long  enslaved  by  despotic 
creeds,  now  exercise  fliith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ — 
so  long  oppressed  by  systems  of  superstition  and 
blood,  now  rejoice  under  the  mild  yoke  of  the  Savior, 
— the  Koran  and  Shasters  are  exchanged  for  the 
Bible — Juggernaut  for  Calvary — Kalee  for  Jesus — 
Mahomet  for  God.  Here  now  is  seen  "  China  with- 
out its  wall  of  selfishness — India  without  its  castes — 
and  earth  without  its  curse."  The  people  are  ele- 
vated, the  nations  are  united,  Jehovah  is  their  King. 

Africa  throws  off  her  load,  and  breaks  her  chains, 
and  comes  to  Jesus — so  long  crushed  and  degraded, 
she  has  at  length  arisen — she  takes  her  place  again 
with  the  nations  of  the  earth,  with  the  redeemed. 
Ignorance,  superstition  and  slavery,  are  now  no  more. 
Her  warfare  is  past — her  mourning  is  o'er — her  long 
captivity  is  at  an  end.  Jehovah  has  triumphed — hia 
children  arc  tree. 

"  No  more  Coomassie  offers  human  blood, 
But  takes  for  sacrifice  the  Lamb  of  God, 
And  on  Siberia's  long  contested  ground, 
A  living  army  of  the  cross  is  found. 
The  gospel  tree  so  ample  and  so  pure, 
Bears  precious  fruit  ;  it?;  leaves  ihe  nations  cure; 
Its  healing  influence  to  Loan^o  spreads  ; 
Angola  feels  it,  and  health's  blossoms  sheds. 
And  where  Cimbebns  no  fre.'h  water  brings. 
Life's  fountains  bubble  in  a  thousand  springs. 
Korana's  shepherds  now  Christ's  flock  become, 
And  Bosheman'p  Kraals  are  changed  to  home,  sweet  home, 


320  RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 

Good  Hope  has  added  Faith  and  humble  Love  ; 
The  Croes  has  triumphed  !  praise  to  God  above." 

America,  the  whole  of  the  western  world,  rejoices 
in  the  light  of  the  glorious  Sun  of  Righteousness — 
the  islands  of  the  sea  wait  for  Jehovah's  law — the 
Indian  tribes  obey  his  word,  and  hail  him  their  Al- 
mighty Lord.  The  tomahawk,  and  scalping  knife, 
and  other  weapons  of  war  and  blood,  are  exchanged 
for  the  olive  branch — for  the  war-whoop  is  now 
heard  the  sound  of  the  "  church-going  bell,"  greet- 
ing the  Sabbath  morning — the  disciple  of  the -Pope 
has  become  the  disciple  of  Jesus,  and  laying  aside 
all  superstition,  he  worships  the  Lord  his  God,  and 
him  only  does  he  serve.  The  dispersed  of  the  seed 
of  Abraham,  the  "  scattered  and  peeled"  among  the 
Ditions,  have  looked  upon  him  "  they  pierced."  The 
winds  of  heaven  have  blown  upon  the  valley  of  dry 
bones — they  have  revived — they  have  come  forth 
out  of  their  graves,  and  seizing  every  one  the  banner 
of  his  tribe,  have  hastened  to  join  the  army  of 
Messiah. 

Hail  !  happy  day !  Jesus  the  Conqueror  reigns — 
the  song  of  triumph  resounds — island  answers  to 
island — continent  to  continent — world  to  world  ; — 
earth,  with  all  its  voices — heaven,  with  all  its  harps, 
resound,  "  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the 
kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  anointed,  and  he 
shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever  ;  alleluia  !  alleluia  !  the 
Lord  God  Omnipotent  reigneth" — "  he  that  sat  upon 
the  throne  said,  Behold,  I  make  all  things  new!" 

Even  now,  the  Spirit  is  moving  on  the  face  of  the 
human  chaos — fiat  after  fiat  goes  forth,  and  what 
light  breaks  in  on  the  darkness  of  ages — what 
mighty  masses  of  humanity  are  uplifting  themselves 
in  solemn  majesty,  like  primitive  mountains  rising 
from    the    doep — what    niore    than     verdant    beauty 


RELIGIOUS    ALLEGORIES. 


321 


clothes  the  moral  landscape  :  how  gloriously  dawns 
the  Sabbath  of  the  world  !  Where  is  now  the  mid- 
night gloom  of  darkness  and  idolatiy  ? — The  desola- 
tion and  misery  attendant  on  sin  ?  We  look  and 
listen,  birt  no  reign  of  darkness,  no  habitation  of 
cruelty,  no  sound  of  anguish  remains.  The  will  of 
God  is  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  done  in  heaven  ! — the 
nations  own  no  other  law,  and  hence  their  aspect  is 
that  of  a  happy  family.  The  Church  aims  at  no 
other  end,  and  hence  all  her  members  are  invested 
with  the  garments  of  salvation,  and  with  the  robes 
of  praise.  The  world  is  bathed  in  the  light  of  peace 
and  purity,  and  love. 

Inanimate  nature  itself  partakes  of  the  general 
joy.  To  the  eye  of  the  renewed  man  it  exhibits  a 
beauty  unknown  before,  and  to  his  ear  it  brings  less- 
ons of  surpassing  wisdom.  The  trees  wave  with  glad- 
ness, and  the  floods  clap  their  hands  ;  the  light  of 
the  moon  is  as  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  the  light  of 
the  sun  is  seven  fold.  Over  the  scene,  the  morning 
stars  sing  together,  and  the  sons  of  God  shout  for 
joy ;  while  the  divine  Creator  himself,  complacently 
beholds  it,  and  proclaims  it  good. 


THE   END* 


CONTENTS  OF  ALLEGORIES. 


LOOKING  UNTO  JESUS, 166 

WALKING  BY  FAITH 172 

THE  SURE  GUIDE 178 

CHARITY,  OR  LOVE, 184 

PRIDE  AND  HUMILITY, 190 

THE   SACRIFICE, 196 

NO  CROSS,  NO  CROWN, 202 

THE  LIFE-BOAT, 208 

OBEDIENCE  AND  WISDOM, : .  214 

DANGER  OF  PRESUMPTION, 220 

DECISION  AND  PERSEVERANCE, 226 

PASSION  AND  PATIENCE, 232 

THE  CONQUERING  CHRISTIAN, 238 

THE  IMPERIAL  PHILANTHROPIST, 244 

THE  WINTRY  ATMOSPHERE, 250 

THE  PROTECTED  TRAVELER, 256 

THE  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE 262 

THE  GREAT  DISCOVERY, 268 

PASSAGE  THROUGH  THE  DESERT 278 

SELFISHNESS 280 

THE  IMPERIAL  PASSENGER, 286 

VENTURING  BY  FAITH, 292 

PATH  OF  LIFE  AND  WAY  OF  DEATH, 293 

PAST,  PRESENT,  FUTURE 804 

PROVIDENCE,  TIME,  ETERNITY, 810 

TRIUMPH  OF  CHRISTIANITY 816 


1 


'^H 


